Client Access to Health Information Policy and Procedures

Health Information & Privacy

At Advanced Physiotherapy, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your personal and health information is handled securely, confidentially and in accordance with Australian privacy legislation.

We collect, use and store health information to provide safe, high-quality physiotherapy and exercise physiology services. Our Privacy Policy explains how we manage your information, your rights to access your records, and how you can contact us if you have any questions.

Access to Your Health Information

You have the right to request access to your health records.

Depending on your request, we may:

• Provide a copy of your clinical records.
• Provide a summary of your health information where appropriate.
• Arrange for you to discuss your records with your treating Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist.

In some circumstances, your clinician may recommend discussing your records with you to ensure the information is interpreted in the appropriate clinical context.

Requesting Corrections

If you believe your health information is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, you may request that it be corrected.

We will review your request and make any appropriate amendments in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

Fees

A reasonable administrative fee may apply when copies of health records are requested.

Where fees apply, you will be advised before your request is processed.

When Access May Be Limited

There are limited circumstances where access to health information may be refused or restricted, including where:

• Access would pose a serious threat to the life, health or safety of any individual.
• The records contain personal information relating to another person and releasing that information would unreasonably affect their privacy.
• Access is otherwise restricted or required to be withheld under Australian law.

Where appropriate, information may be released after third-party information has been removed.

How to Request Your Records

To request access to your health information, please contact our reception team.

Phone: (02) 4954 5330‍

We aim to respond to all requests promptly and in accordance with Australian privacy legislation.

Privacy Commitment

Advanced Physiotherapy is committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of your personal and health information.

We only collect information necessary to provide healthcare services and will not disclose your information without your consent unless required or authorised by law.

For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy or speak with one of our team members.

When a client seeks access to their health information, the treating physiotherapist discusses it with them to prevent the information being misunderstood or taken out of context. Physiotherapists have the option to summarise health information in response to a request for access but the practice is not obliged to do so on a regular basis. A summary can be provided instead of or as well as the original record.

Openness

Health professionals at Advanced Physiotherapy aim to have open communication with clients regarding their health information. The legislation gives clients a general right of access to their own client health records.

Correction

A client may request a correction to their own health information if they believe it is not accurate, complete or up-to-date.

Charging for access

Clients are charged for the administrative costs involved in providing access to their own health information.  The fees involved are reasonable and do not discourage individuals from seeking access to their own health information. Clients are informed of the costs involved prior to provision of service.

In determining reasonable fees for access to health information, the practice may wish to refer to fees that apply to similar requests under Freedom of Information laws or legislation such as the Victorian Health Records Act 2001 or the ACT Health Records

Withholding access

Advanced Physiotherapy may withhold access to a client’s own health records in a limited number of situations. Access may also be withheld where the client health record contains information about another person and the privacy of that person may be unreasonably affected. In this kind of situation, it may be possible to provide the information once the identifying details of the other person have been removed or by contacting the other person to seek consent to the release of their information, provided such contact does not cause privacy risks for the client.