Privacy Policy

MET Phys

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. 

 

Why and when your consent is necessary

When you register as a patient of our practice, you provide consent for our Accredited Exercise Physiologists and MET Phys 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.

 

Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?

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).

 

What personal information do we collect?

The information we will collect about you includes:

  • names, date of birth, addresses, contact details
  • medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, immunisations, social history, family history and risk factors
  • Medicare number, DVA number, NDIS number (where available) for identification and claiming purposes
  • healthcare identifiers
  • health fund details

 

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.

 

How do we collect your personal information?

Our practice will collect your personal information:

  1. When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration.
  2. During the course of providing exercise physiology services, we may collect further personal information. This may be through HealthKit, Physitrack or eHealth.
  3. We may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send us an email or SMS, telephone us, make an online appointment or communicate with us using social media.
  4. In some circumstances, personal information may also be collected from other sources. Often this is because it is not practical or reasonable to collect it from you directly. This may include information from:
    • your guardian or responsible person
    • other involved healthcare providers, such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services and pathology and diagnostic imaging services
    • your health fund, Medicare or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (as necessary).

 

Who do we share your personal information with?

We somethings share your personal information: 

  • with third parties who work with our practice for business purposes, such as accreditation agencies or information technology providers – these third parties are required to comply with APPs and this policy
  • with other healthcare providers
  • when it is required or authorised by law (e.g. court subpoenas)
  • when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent
  • to assist in locating a missing person
  • to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim
  • for the purpose of the confidential dispute resolution process
  • when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (e.g. some diseases require mandatory notification)
  • during the course or providing exercise physiology services, through HealthKit and Physitrack.

Only people that need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing exercise physiology 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.

 

How do we store and protect your personal information?

Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms. MET Phys uses electronic records and some paper records (only when necessary), visual (e.g. videos and photos from assessments).

Our practice stores all personal information securely. The electronic format is protected in HealthKit with a strong password. Hardcopies are stored in a securely locked filing cabinet. 

 

How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?

You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.

Our practice acknowledges patients may require access to their medical records. We require you to put this request in writing via email or hardcopy and our practice will respond within a reasonable time 30 days. 

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 sure requests in writing to Sarah at MET Phys, Shop 2&3, 10517 New England Hwy, Highfields QLD 4352 or admin@metphys.com 

 

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. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure within 30 days of receiving the complaint or concern.

 

Contact details

MET Phys

Shop 2&3, 10517 New England Hwy, Highfields QLD 4352

admin@metphys.com 

07 4599 3165

 

You may also contact the OAIC. Genreally the OAIC will require you to give them time to respond before they will investigate. For further information visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC on 1300 336 002.

 

Privacy and our website

The collection of information via our practice website, social media or email is kept confidential. We ensure that email addresses and other personal information are not given out to third parties. 

 

Privacy review statement

This Privacy Policy will be reviewed every six months to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may occur. Patients will be notified via email when amendments to the policy occur. 

 

 

 

This Privacy Policy was created on: 11 February 2019

Last update: 04 January 2022