- 03 5243 6677
- info@lifelinemedicalcentre.com.au
- 37 Torquay Rd, Belmont, VIC 3216
- For emengencies call 000
![](https://www.lifelinemedicalcentre.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Lifeline-Medical-Centre-Logo-EDIT.png)
(updated on 06/09 2023)
This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our patient, on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with third parties.
When you register as a patient of our practice, you provide consent for our GPs and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible healthcare. Only staff who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If we need to use your information for anything else, we will seek additional consent from you to do this.
Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide healthcare services to you. Our main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your health. We also use it for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and business processes (e.g. staff training).
The information we will collect about you includes your:
Dealing with us anonymously
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.
Our practice may collect your personal information in several different ways.
We sometimes share your personal information:
Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing medical services or as otherwise described in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
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 any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying our practice in writing.
Our practice may use your personal information to improve the quality of the services we offer to our patients through research and analysis of our patient data.
We may provide de-identified data to other organisations to improve population health outcomes. The information is secure, patients cannot be identified and the information is stored within Australia. You can let our reception staff know if you do not want your information included.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your information may be stored at our practice in various forms:
Our Practice takes all reasonable steps to protect the security of the personal information we hold by:
The Practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. Patients are encouraged to make this request in writing, and the Practice will respond within a reasonable time (usually within 30day). A fee for the retrieval and copying of your medical record will apply, charged in accordance with the schedule of fees specified in the Health Records Regulations 2008(Vic) plus GST. This fee is not redeemable through Medicare.
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 that your personal information held by our practice is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing to Lifeline medical Centre/practice manager
Please contact our Practice Manger for more information or our Access to Medical Record Policy.
We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure.
If you have a complaint regarding the way your personal information has been handled by our Practice, please put it in writing and address it to Practice Manager on:
Lifeline Medical Centre
37 Torquay road, Belmont VIC 3216
Or email us:
info@lifelinemedicalcentre.com.au
We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 14 days and endeavour to provide a full response within 30 days of receipt.
Should you be dissatisfied with our response, you may lodge your written complaint with Victorian Privacy Commissioner at https://www.privacy.vic.gov.au and or the Victorian Health Services Commissioner at https://www/health.vic.gov.au
This policy will be reviewed annually or earlier if needed to ensure it remains applicable to current practice procedure and legal requirements.