Patient Information
When you register as a Cancer Specialists patient, you provide consent for our staff to access and use your personal information, for us to provide you with The Best Care.
Access to patient information is limited to authorised staff. If we need to use your information for other purposes such as research, we will seek additional consent from you to do so.
Our main purpose for the collection, use, holding and sharing of your personal information is to manage your health. We will also use it for directly related business activities such as Medicare and Private Health Fund claims.
We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.
Our practice will not use your personal information for marketing, social media or other services directly, without your verbal and written consent.
What Information is contained in your Patient Health Record?
We retain electronic health records on our secure server. Our patient health records include information about patients such as:
- Name, Date of Birth, Address (physical and postal), contact numbers, email address and your nominated next of kin details, employment and marital status.
- Medical information including history, medications, allergies, adverse events, social history, family history and risk factors
- Medicare and Private Health Fund numbers (for claiming)
- Other healthcare providers involved in your care
Anonymity and pseudonymity
You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym, unless it is impracticable for us to do so or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.
How do we collect your personal information?
Our staff will collect your personal and demographic information during your registration and subsequent visits, or if you contact the practice via email or telephone. Personal information may also be collected from other sources. This may include information from:
- Other involved healthcare providers, such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health, pathology and diagnostic services
- Your health fund, Medicare or Department of Veteran’s Affairs (as necessary)
- Your next of kin, guardian or responsible person
- If unsolicited personal information is received from any other source, it will be reviewed by our Privacy Officer and destroyed within the scope of the APP requirements.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information stored at our practice in electronic records and limited paper records.
Our practice stores all personal information securely. Our electronic records are protected information systems utilizing regularly changed passwords and up to date Firewalls and Virus Protection. All paper records are stored in staff restricted areas. All our staff and contractors are bound to confidentiality agreements.
How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?
You have the right to access and correct your personal information.
Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. We require you to put this request in writing to the Doctor and our practice will respond within 30 days. A small fee may be applicable, depending on the nature of the request, to cover printing or administrative costs.
Fee for a patient to see their file with their doctor is based on the time the doctor is required.
Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up-to-date. From time-to-time, we will ask you to verify your personal information held by our practice is correct and up-to-date.
You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing to
info@cancerspecialists.com.au or by post to Level 1, 84 Bridge Road Richmond.
How can you lodge a privacy related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?
We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing, addressed to the Practice Manager to
info@cancerspecialists.com.au or by post to Level 1, 84 Bridge Road Richmond.
We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure, the Privacy Act 1988 and the office of the Australian Information Commissioner.