Fees & Appointments

Our practice adheres to Australian Privacy Laws that were introduced in Australia, December 2001. These laws ensure that individuals consent to the collection of personal and sensitive information about themselves by others – including medical information.

We collect personal and health related information for the primary purpose of providing comprehensive, ongoing, holistic medical care to individuals and families in accordance with accepted, high quality general medical practice. Some of this information will be used for providing a referral to a specialist, hospital or other health service. We may also use information within the practice for our own quality assurance and education programs, to provide you with reminder letters, to inform you of health related issues or programs which may be of interest and for accounting purposes, including Medicare billing.

Information may also be provided to maintain national health databases, particularly for childhood immunisation. At times we are also legally required to notify authorities of certain diseases (such as TB or meningitis) and provide information for medical defence and other legal requirements.

We ensure any personal information that is entered onto the computer will be kept private in the same way as occurs with paper records, the computer is password protected and only accessible by authorised staff within the practice. If you wish to access your personal information held at this practice, please collect and complete a copy of ‘Request for Access” form available at reception. If you require a copy a nominal fee may be payable. The information we collect is normally restricted to demographics (name, address, Medicare and social service numbers, health insurance status and contact phone numbers), current and past medical problems, medication taken, allergies, family history of illness, health risk factors, a record of each attendance and correspondence sent and received (e.g. specialist and hospital correspondence).

You may be asked to participate in the collation of data for research, which requires your consent for us to supply unidentified information. We will not disclose any personal information for any non-related secondary purpose without prior patient consent. A copy of our Privacy Policy is available to you, please ask the receptionist.

Our Practice operates under the AMA code of ethics. From time to time we may ask you to complete a confidential questionnaire about the centre and services we offer. We are keen to hear if you feel we could improve in any area.

We believe problems are best handled by the Practice, however if you feel there is a problem that you wish to take outside the Practice, you may write to either:

• Health and Community Service Complaints Commission – PO Box 199, Rundle Mall, Adelaide 5000
• Federal Privacy Commissioner – GPO Box 5218, Sydney 2000

​or

• Privacy Hotline : 1300 363 992

As stated on the Australian Medical Association website:
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“The AMA Code of Ethics articulates and promotes a body of ethical principles to guide doctors’ conduct in their relationships with patients, colleagues and society.

This Code has grown out of other similar ethical codes stretching back into history including the Hippocratic Oath.

Because of their special knowledge and expertise, doctors have a responsibility to improve and maintain the health of their patients who, either in a vulnerable state of illness or for the maintenance of their health, entrust themselves to medical care.

The doctor-patient relationship is itself a partnership based on mutual respect and collaboration.

Within the partnership, both the doctor and the patient have rights as well as responsibilities.

Changes in society, science and the law constantly raise new ethical issues and may challenge existing ethical perspectives.

The AMA accepts the responsibility for setting the standards of ethical behaviour expected of doctors.”

Pursuant to the Children’s Protection Act 1993, it is a legislative requirement that this practice has a ‘Code of Conduct’ and a ‘Child Safe Policy’ under which it operates.

These requirements reflect the broader community expectations that every child has a right to be safe from harm at all times and that they are cared for in a manner such that their well-being and future potential is protected at all times.

Golden Grove Health Centre, is subject to mandatory reporting requirements. As such any person who works or is a volunteer in this practice is required by law to notify the Department for Families and Communities should they suspect on reasonable grounds that a child is or has been the subject of abuse or neglect, provided that the suspicion is formed in the course of that person’s work. The suspicion must be reported as soon as practicable after it was formed (max. penalty $10,000).
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It is a legislative requirement that all current and future employees of the practice have had a valid criminal history assessment Contractors or volunteers (and students) who either work with children regularly within the practice or access their medical records are subject to the same requirement.

Our patient records are maintained in a secure on-site computer system. The information recorded is protected by an individual password system and is accessible only to authorised personnel.

All staff that have access to patient files have signed a confidentiality agreement

Records will be retained for at least 7 years after the last encounter in the case of adults and for children, until they have attained the age of 25 years. Paper based information that is no longer required is destroyed by shredding or confidential waste collection.

All authorised practice doctors and staff have access to your information – if you see different doctors they all have access to your record unless you specifically request otherwise. In special circumstances an individual consultation can be “made confidential” from access to all but the doctor who sees you on that occasion – this needs to be discussed at the time of your consultation – not routinely recommended for continuity of care within the practice.

You may have access to your records upon request.

The Act specifies that access to your records can be denied in some situations such as:

• Where access may pose a serious risk to the life or health of yourself or another person
• Where access may seriously impact on the privacy of another person
• In certain circumstances where the person is taking or may take legal action against the practice etc.

Individuals can only have access to their own records.

Only the custodial parent will have access to the records of children, and then only until the children reach an age at which the practice is of the opinion that they can provide their own consent – this age will vary from case to case.

You will need to specifically arrange to access your records – the process will depend on the complexity of the information you are seeking, although you are not required to give a reason for wishing to see the information.

Simple matters may be addressed during your consultation.