Healthstyles Clinic - Privacy Policy

Introduction

Healthstyles Clinic takes your privacy seriously. To this end, we comply with the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics (2007) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988.

The APPs govern the way in which we collect, use, disclose, store, secure and dispose of your Personal Information.

For further details:

APP see Commissioner’s (OAIC) website – http://www.oaic.gov.au

APS Code of Ethics - https://www.psychology.org.au

 

Personal information

The provision of psychological services requires the collection of information of a personal and often sensitive nature.

The types of information we may collect includes:

  • Client name, names of contacts and employers, dates of birth, Medicare and private health details, insurance claim details, credit card details

  • Address, phone numbers, email addresses for both client and related contacts

  • Relevant medical history and past assessment results

 In addition, we may collect the following information in the course of your treatment:

  • Results from paper or computer-based screens and assessments

  • Case notes related to your treatment

  • Information from health practitioners, schools, referring agencies

 

How we collect personal Information

Information is collected via:

  • Completion of forms

  • Face to face meetings

  • Email or fax messages

  • Telephone conversations

  • Our website (www.healthstyles.com.au)

  • Correspondence

  • Third parties

Where possible and if appropriate, we will explain why we are collecting information from you and how it is planned to be used. If we collect or use personal information in ways other than as stated in this policy, we will ensure we do so pursuant to the requirements of the Privacy Act.

 

Use and disclosure of personal information

The use and disclosure of personal information is essential for the provision of high-quality psychological services.

We use personal information to:

  • Assist in the provision of psychological services

  • Help us collaborate with other health professionals/third parties involved in your treatment

  • Comply with legal requirements, including court orders and duty of disclosure

  • Assist with our administrative and reporting requirements such as appointment scheduling, invoicing, records management.

  • Allow health insurance and Medicare claims

We will only provide personal information to third parties with your consent or if permitted or authorised to do so by law.

Note, Psychologists may be required by law to disclose personal information in order to lessen or prevent a serious threat to the life, health, or safety of an individual or member of the public. This threat does not need to be imminent.

 

Storage and disposal of personal information

Healthstyles Clinic stores personal information using:

  • Data storage services from Microsoft, Flowlogic (Datanova Cloud database), Halaxy (Australian practice management software), Xero (accounting software), National Australia Bank (NAB) Transact, Monday (Task manager).

  • Practice laptops and iPads used by our employees (not for personal use)

  • Printed and handwritten documents.

Security information:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/privacy

https://www.xero.com/au/accounting-software/security

https://datanova.com.au/privacy-policy-2

https://monday.com/l/privacy/privacy-policy

https://halaxy.com/article/privacy

https://www.nab.com.au/common/privacy-policy

 

Healthstyles Clinic will take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we collect and hold from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, modification or disclosure. Healthstyles Clinic uses complex passwords, secure data centres, encryption, virus scanners and 2-step verification for digital data. Our paper files are stored in a locked file room and our premises are protected with a monitored security alarm.

We will take reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is accurate, complete and up to date. Please assist us by telling us about changes to personal details or if you notice the information we have is out of date, incomplete or inaccurate.

You can request a copy of your personal information by writing or emailing us. This will incur an administrative fee. We may limit information provided, where legally entitled to do so.

Client records are kept for a minimum of seven years after date of last contact. In addition, children’s records are kept until the child attains the age of 25 years. After this time, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify your information as per APS guidelines.

 

Policy Updates

This Policy may be updated at our discretion. The most recent version will be available on our website. If you have any question or concerns regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

 

Healthstyles Clinic

71 Mount St Burnie Tas 7320

Phone: 1300 240 030

ABN: 76 809 459 902