Dr Maxine Szramka’s practice takes its obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) seriously and we are committed to handling your information in accordance with the Privacy Act and in particular the Australian Privacy Principles.
We need to collect your personal and medical information in order to properly assess, diagnose, treat and be proactive in your health care needs. All members of Dr Maxine Szramka’s practice may have access to your medical records from time to time.
We hold your information in both electronic and hard copy formats.
We will collect your health information directly from you but we may also collect information about you from a third party, for example from other health service providers, a family member or legal guardian.
We will use or disclose your personal information for the purpose of providing health services to you. The multi-disciplinary team approach to health care is common to the Australian health system. Practitioners work together and share necessary information in order to deliver optimum health care.
We may also disclose your information to enable recording on medical registers (e.g. pap smear register, national bowel screening program).
When the examination is performed under insurance claim, your information is disclosed to either your employer or the insurance company concerned for the purpose of invoicing payment. Billing information may also be disclosed to Medicare Australia.
In the circumstances of adverse incidents, your information may need to be disclosed to medical indemnity insurers.
In other situations we would not disclose your personal information without obtaining your consent.
We will endeavour to ensure that all personal information we collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up-to date.
To ensure the security of personal information held in this practice, the computer is password protected and only accessible by authorised staff.
If your details change or you believe our records are not up to date and/or accurate please contact us.
This privacy policy clearly explains how we handle health information and is available on request. You can also access this policy on this web page at any time, or on our website www.drmaxineszramka.com
You have a right to have access to the health information that we hold in your health record. We will grant access unless to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) or other relevant law allows us or requires us to refuse such access. We may charge a fee to recover reasonable costs associated with supplying information to you.
We will only use your Medicare number for the purpose of billing for medical services provided. Similarly we would not use or disclose any other government identifying number which you may have given us for any other purposes.
Where lawful and practicable, you have the option of using health services without identifying yourself.
Your information will not be transferred outside Australia unless that country has a similar privacy regime or only with your consent.
Dr Maxine Szramka offers people, both patients and non-patients, the opportunity to subscribe to her Rheumatology blog at www.drmaxineszramka.com and www.rheumatologycentre.com.au. If you elect to receive blog updates by supplying your email address for this purpose at the provided subscriber link, your email address will be collected and added to a list of subscribers held on the hosted domain. These email addresses are not used for any other purpose, are kept separate from the practice, and are not shared with any third parties.
If you have any concerns about the way we have handled your personal information then please contact our practice manager at the relevant practice location, Double Bay, Miranda or Nowra. We prefer that your complaint is in writing.
It is our intention to resolve any complaint fairly and as quickly as possible. If you are unhappy with the response provided by us, you may refer your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.