Privacy Policy | Churinga Medical Centre, Kilsyth VIC

Email policy

You're welcome to contact the practice through our contact page, subject to the warning below. We aim to reply within 2 business days. If you need a faster response, please call us on (03) 9722 9888.

Please don't email us about clinical matters. If you need to discuss anything medical, call the practice and book an appointment with your doctor.

A note on email security

Our email service is not encrypted, so we can't guarantee the security of email communication. There's a risk that emails or attachments could be read by someone other than the intended recipient, for example through hacking or because someone else has access to your email account.

Our privacy policy

Churinga Medical Centre is committed to keeping your health information confidential. We comply with the Victorian health privacy laws that govern how personal information is handled. This policy explains how we collect and use your personal information, including your health information, and when we may share it with a third party.

When you register as a patient, you consent to the GPs and practice staff accessing and using your personal information so they can give you the best possible care. Only staff who need to see your information will have access to it. If we need to use your information for anything else, we'll ask for your consent first.

Why we collect, use, hold and share your information

We collect your personal information to provide healthcare services and to help manage your health. We also use it for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits, accreditation and staff training.

What information we collect

Name, date of birth, address and contact details
Medical information, including your medical history
Medications, allergies, adverse events, immunisations, social history, family history and risk factors
Medicare number, for identification and claiming
Healthcare identifiers
Health fund details

How we collect your information

Practice staff collect your personal and demographic information through your registration form when you first make an appointment. We may also collect information when you visit our website, phone us or make an appointment, and during the course of your care.

Information can also come through eHealth services, such as Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions and My Health Record. In some cases, we may collect information from other sources when it isn't practical to collect it from you directly. This may include your guardian or responsible person, or other healthcare providers such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services, pathology and imaging services, Medicare or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Third parties who work with the practice for business purposes, such as accreditation agencies or IT providers, must comply with the Australian Privacy Principles and this policy. We may also share your information:

With other healthcare providers, when required or authorised by law (for example, a court subpoena)
When it's needed to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient's life, health or safety, or to public health or safety, or when it's impractical to get your consent
To help locate a missing person, or to establish, exercise or defend a legal claim
When there's a legal requirement to share certain information (for example, some diseases must be reported)
While providing care through eHealth services, such as Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions and My Health Record

Apart from these situations, we won't share your personal information with any third party without your consent. We won't share it with anyone outside Australia without your consent, unless the law allows it in exceptional circumstances. We won't use your information to market any goods or services without your consent.

How we store and protect your information

Your information may be stored in different forms, including electronic records and visual media such as X-rays and CT scans. We keep all personal information secure, in protected information systems and in hard copy in a secure environment. It's protected with passwords and with confidentiality agreements for staff and contractors.

SMS reminders

We use SMS to send appointment reminders, with appropriate regard for your privacy. Please be aware that any electronic message carries some risk of being read by someone other than the intended recipient. If you'd rather not receive SMS reminders, let reception know and we'll opt you out.

Accessing and correcting your information

You have the right to ask for access to, and correction of, your personal information, including your medical records. Please put your request in writing and give it to reception, by mail or in person. We'll respond within 30 days. A small fee may apply to cover staff time and stationery costs.

We take reasonable steps to correct your information if it's inaccurate or out of date.

Questions or concerns

If you have a question or concern about your privacy, please talk to the practice manager or call (03) 9722 9888.

You can also write to us at: 465 Mt Dandenong Road, Kilsyth VIC 3137.

How this website handles your information when you browse or send a message is set out in our website privacy policy.

Privacy and email policy