Privacy Policy
1. Melbourne IVF will, at all times,
be compliant with the provisions of the Commonwealth Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 and the Victorian Health Records Act 2001.
Melbourne IVF will have regard for the Office of the Federal Privacy
Commissioner’s Guidelines on Privacy in the Private Health Sector dated
November 2001.
Melbourne IVF will adopt and follow the Guidelines and Regulations and the
eleven Health Privacy Principles (HPP) as set out in the Victorian Health Records
Act 2001. In summary these Principles provide for:
2. Collection
Collection of health information by MIVF will be that which is necessary and as
permitted under HPP 1. MIVF will collect health information necessary to the
performance of its services and with patient consent. Patients will be made aware
of how their health information is used and how they can gain access to it.
3. Use and Disclosure
Melbourne IVF will only use or disclose health information for the primary
purpose for which it was collected, Melbourne IVF will only disclose health
information as permitted under HPP 2, the requirements of which include:
- patient consent
- any secondary purpose which is directly related to the primary purpose
- reasonable patient expectation of such disclosure
- circumstances related to public interest, such as law enforcement and
- public or individual health and safety
4. Data Quality
Melbourne IVF will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the health information
it collects, uses, holds or discloses is accurate, complete, up to date and relevant to
the functions or and services it provides.
5. Data Security & Data Retention
Melbourne IVF will take reasonable steps to protect health information from
unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Melbourne IVF will not transfer, destroy or delete health information other than
as permitted under HPP 4.
6. Openness
Melbourne IVF will set out in a document available to patients, a description of:
• its policy on the management of health information
• how a patient may access their own health information
• why that information is held and how it is used.
7. Access and Correction
In accordance with HPP 5, Melbourne IVF recognises its patient’s right to access
to their health information, except in certain circumstances outlined and permitted
in HPP 6. Melbourne IVF will promptly correct any error in health information
that is brought to its attention.
8. Identifiers
Melbourne IVF will only adopt or use a public sector identifier where necessary
and permitted by HPP 7.
9. Anonymity
Melbourne IVF will give patients the option to interact anonymously wherever it
is lawful and practicable to do so.
10. Trans-border Data Flows
Melbourne IVF will only transfer personal information to a recipient outside
Victoria where information will be protected in a substantially similar manner to
the requirements of these HPP’s and where confidentiality and disclosure
agreement are in place between the individual and the recipient.
11. Transfer or closure of the practice of a health service provider
Melbourne IVF will follow the requirements of HPP 10 with respect to provision
of a notice of transfer or closure to current and past patients and the dispersal of
health information.
12. Making Information available to another health service provider
Melbourne IVF will respond to requests to provide health information promptly
and in accordance with the requirements of HPP 11.
A full copy of the Health Privacy Principles will be provided to patients upon
request.
i) All questions of appropriateness of management of patient’s health
information will be tested against the Health Records Act. Where
deficiencies are found, procedures will be amended to ensure
compliance.
ii) Melbourne IVF will deal with all issues relating to privacy within
the Melbourne IVF Complaints Handling Procedure, which is set
out in Attachment A.
Dr Lyndon Hale, Chairman
Caroline Mulcahy, Chief Executive
May 2007
Copyright
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Permission to use any of the information or part thereof for commercial use must be obtained from Melbourne IVF, Freemasons Hospital Medical Centre, 320 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, Vic 3002.