Other Information
Patient Feedback
Travel Advice:
CQ Medicentre is a member of The Travel Medicine Alliance. We offer comprehensive travel advice on many destinations throughout the world. Vaccinations and travel medicine packs are available at very competitive prices. www.TravelMedicine.com.au
Repeat Prescriptions:
Online Security and technology
Practice procedure
The Health Insurance Commission (HIC) has developed a security system for health care electronic transactions using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology. Using digital certificates, transactions can be digitally signed and encrypted and sent to the HIC and other health professionals and locations that also have PKI. This technology is intended for use across the entire Australian health sector.
There are two types of digital certificate used in the HIC’s PKI:
- location certificates which relate to a building, location or the practice
- individual certificates for persons who will be corresponding electronically with the HIC and other health care professionals and locations.
Privacy policy
- NPP 1: collection
- Describes what an organisation should do when collecting personal information, including what they can collect, collecting from third parties and, generally, what they should tell individuals about the collection.
- NPP 2: use and disclosure
- Outlines how organisations may use and disclose individuals’ personal information. If certain conditions are met, an organisation does not always need an individual’s consent to use and disclose personal information. There are also rules about direct marketing.
- NPPs 3–4: information quality and security
- An organisation must take steps to ensure the personal information it holds is accurate and up-to-date, and is kept secure from unauthorised use or access.
- NPP 5: openness
- An organisation must have a policy on how it manages personal information, and make it available to anyone who asks for it.
- NPP 6: access and correction
- Gives individuals a general right of access to their personal information, and the right to have that information corrected if it is inaccurate, incomplete or out-of-date.
- NPP 7: identifiers • Generally prevents an organisation from adopting an Australian Government identifier for an individual (e.g. Medicare numbers) as its own.
- NPP 8: anonymity
- Where possible, organisations must give individuals the opportunity to do business with them without the individual having to identify themselves.
- NPP 9: transborder data flows
- Outlines how organisations should protect personal information that they transfer outside Australia.
- NPP 10: sensitive information
- Sensitive information includes information relating to health, racial or ethnic background, or criminal records. Higher standards apply to the handling of sensitive informatio
C 6.3B Patient health information The maintenance of privacy requires that any information regarding individual patients, including staff members who may be patients, must not be disclosed in any form (verbally, in writing, electronic forms inside/outside our practice) except for strictly authorised use within the patient care context at our practice or as legally directed.
Health records must be kept where constant staff supervision is easily provided. Personal health information must be kept out of view and must not be accessible by the public.
All patient health information must be considered private and confidential, and therefore must not be disclosed to family, friends, staff or others without the patient’s consent. This information includes medical details, family information, address, employment and other demographic and accounts data obtained via reception. Any information given to unauthorised personnel will result in disciplinary action, possible dismissal and other legal consequences.
Each staff member must sign a confidentiality agreement on commencement of employment and further information is provided in Human resource management section.
In addition to Federal legislation, our practice also complies with State or Territory legislation.
Care should be taken that individuals cannot see computer screens showing information about other individuals. Screensavers or other methods of protecting information must be engaged.
Access to computerised patient information must be strictly controlled with personal logins/passwords. Staff must not disclose passwords to unauthorised persons. Screens need to be left cleared when information is not being used. Terminals must also be logged off when the computer is left unattended for a significant period of time.
Items for the pathology couriers or other pick-ups must not be left in public view.
Practice procedure
All staff must follow the listed guidelines to minimise the risk of potential breaches of confidentiality. Waiting patient medical records are not left in an area accessible by the public Medical records remain turned face down at front desk when not in use Staff speak softly at front desk Only minimal personal information is discussed in a public area In our practice, items for pathology couriers or other pickups are left at the nurses’ station in a designated secure area.
Disclaimer
All content and media on the CQ Medicentre Website is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the nearest hospital emergency department, or call the emergency services immediately. If you choose to rely on any information provided by Your Health, you do so solely at your own risk. External (outbound) links to other websites or educational material that are not explicitly created by CQ Medicentre are followed at your own risk. Under no circumstances is Your Health responsible for the claims of third party websites or educational providers.