Privacy Policy
How we Collect, Hold and Disclose Personal Information
This policy sets out how Footwise Podiatry Group (we) collect, hold and disclose personal information. We take privacy seriously and are committed to complying with the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
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We understand that information regarding your health is personal. Our Privacy Policy will ensure your patient file is maintained with the utmost care for security, accuracy, and confidentiality. Our policy also describes your rights, as well as obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of personal and medical information.
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What is Personal Information and Why do we Collect It?
Personal Information is information or an opinion that identifies an individual. Examples of Personal Information we collect include, but is not limited to: names, dates of birth, addresses, email addresses, phone and facsimile numbers, current and historical health information and medical histories.
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We collect personal information to:
Provide professional podiatry services and products to our patients
Communicate with our patients, suppliers and other business contacts
Manage and account for our services and products
Manage credit provided to our patients
Inform our patients and other business contacts about issues which may be of Interest to them
Market our services and send invitations to our events
Manage our employees and contractors
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We also collect the information necessary to provide the specific professional podiatry services and products our patients require, as well as payment information.
How we Collect Personal Information
We collect personal information direct from an individual when that individual meets with us, communicates with us by letter, telephone, email or fax or submits information through our websites or other social media outlets.
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We may also collect personal information about an individual from that individual’s family or friends who accompany the individual when meeting with us, or who contact us on behalf of the individual. We may also collect personal information about an individual from another health practitioner who refers that individual as a patient to us or who provides us with specialist or other medical reports about that individual on that individual’s request.
Disclosure of Personal Information
Your Personal Information may be disclosed in a number of circumstances including the following:
Third parties where you consent to the use or disclosure; and
Where required or authorised by law.
Security of Personal Information
Your Personal Information is stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.
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When your Personal Information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify your Personal Information. However, most of the Personal Information is or will be stored in client files which will be kept by us for a minimum of 7 years.
General Use and Disclosure
We use and disclose personal information for the primary purpose for which it was collected, related purposes and other purposes authorised by the Privacy Act. In general, we use and disclose personal information for the purposes set out above.
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To whom do we disclose personal information?
We may disclose personal information about an individual:
to our employees
to the individual’s family, friends and other health practitioners (with the relevant individual’s authority)
to our suppliers who provide us with products or services required by the individual
to anyone else whom the individual authorises us to disclose the information
as otherwise authorised by the Privacy Act
Who Else can Access this Information?
Our contractors and other third parties may have access to some personal information we hold while assisting us to carry on our practice. For example, contractors may provide reception and other administrative support to our practice. They may also distribute some of our publications and develop and maintain our computer systems, electronic records, websites and other social media outlets.
Disclosure to Overseas Recipients
Unless required or authorised to do so by law, we will not disclose personal information about an individual to overseas recipients without the authority of that individual.
How do we keep Personal Information Secure?
We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. We store digital versions on secure servers. We require all persons authorised to access digital information to use logins and passwords to access such information.
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Unless we are prevented from doing so by law, we de-identify or destroy securely all personal information we hold when no longer reasonably required by us.
Security Breaches
In the event that we become aware of any actual or potential unauthorised access to or disclosure of personal information about an individual, or any loss of such information which may lead to unauthorised access or disclosure, we will promptly investigate and where appropriate, take remedial action and notify the individual affected in accordance with the Privacy Act.
Integrity of Personal Information
We take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we collect is accurate, up to date and complete and that the personal information we use or disclose is accurate, up to date, complete and relevant, having regard to the purpose of such use or disclosure.
To that end, we encourage you to contact us to update or correct any personal information we hold about you.
Accessing or Correction of your Personal Information
You may access the Personal Information we hold about you and update and/or correct it, subject to certain exceptions. If you wish to access your Personal Information, please contact us in writing.
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Footwise Podiatry Group will not charge any fee for your access request, but may charge an administrative fee for providing a copy of your Personal Information. In order to protect your Personal Information we may require identification from you before releasing the requested information.
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We take reasonable steps to correct all personal information we hold to ensure that, having regard to the purposes for which it is held, the information is accurate, up to date, complete, relevant and not misleading.
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You may request corrections to personal information we hold about you. We deal with all requests for correction to personal information as required by the Privacy Act.
Complaints
If you wish to make a complaint about this Privacy Policy or our collection, use or disclosure of personal information, please contact us in the first instance. We will investigate your complaint and try to promptly resolve your complaint directly with you.
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If you are not satisfied with the outcome, then you may make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). For information about how to make such a complaint, please refer to the OAIC website.
Contact Us
To request access to or correction of personal information, to request not to receive marketing material or invitations from us, or to make a privacy complaint to us, please contact us at info@footwisepodiatrygroup.com.au
Changes to Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy from time to time and without notice by publication on our website.
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We recommend that you regularly review our Privacy Policy to ensure you are aware of any changes.