My Canberra Osteopath (MCO) Privacy Policy

MCO takes its obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 seriously, this privacy policy is designed to provide information to you, our valued patient, on how your personal information (including health information) is collected, used and stored within our practice, and circumstances in which we may share it with third parties.

Once you register as a patient at MCO, you provide consent to our staff to access and use your personal information so they can ensure the provision of the best standard of healthcare. Only staff who need to have access to your personal information will, if we need your information for anything else we will seek your consent to do this.

MCO needs to collect your personal information to provide healthcare services to you. Our primary reasoning for collecting, holding, using and sharing your personal information is to provide healthcare to you. Additionally, we directly require it for related business activities and processes including financial payments and claims, accreditation and audits.

The information we will collect about you includes your:

• Name, date of birth, addresses, email address, phone number and occupation.

• Medical information including medical history, medication, fractures, immunisations and vaccinations, social history, family history and risk factors.

• Medicare number for identification and claiming purposes (primarily under the Chronic Disease Management plan).

• Health fund details.

• Veteran Affairs details.

• Insurance claim details.

We collect your personal information in several different ways including:

• At your first appointment we will collect your personal and demographic information via online registration, phone registration or in person registration. It is essential to complete this.

• We may also collect your personal information during a telephone call, making online appointments or when you communicate with us in any way.

• During your consultation, we may also collect further personal information that enables us to provide you the best healthcare.

• In certain situations we may also collect personal information from your guardian, other healthcare providers (such as doctor, surgeon, pathology, diagnostic imaging or allied health professional), your health fund, Medicare or Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

 In certain circumstances we may share your personal information with:

• Third parties who work with our practice for business related activities such as information technology providers, accreditation agencies or GO Health Reception – these parties are also under obligation under the Privacy Act 1988.

• Healthcare providers

• When required by law

The only people that need to access your information will be able to so. In circumstances outside of providing Osteopathic services or as otherwise described in this policy, MCO will not share your personal information with any third party without your consent.

All personal information at MCO is stored securely. Personal information is stored in electronic format, in protected information systems or in hard copy.

If you would like to know further about the Privacy Act 1988, please visit www.oaic.gov.au.