Privacy Policy
Ultimate Aged Care Privacy Policy
Purpose
Ultimate Aged Care is committed to ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of all personal/health information of our clients, staff, contractors and website visitors. We adhere to the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) and this policy is consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles within the Privacy Act 1988.
The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to outline Ultimate Aged Care’s ongoing obligations in respect of how we manage personal and health related information and data.
Policy
This policy statement covers the following:
What type of information we collect
Why and how we collect information.
How we use information.
How we protect information.
Clients accessing their personal information.
How to manage complaints and breaches.
What type of information we collect
The type of information we collect to assist the team in providing cate and treatment, conditions may include:
Personal information, e.g. name, address, phone, date of birth, gender.
Health history, ethnic background, cultural considerations or current lifestyle.
Occupation, employer’s details, interests, payment details, financial information.
Information about how and where clients were referred to us.
Health information including medical results, clinical and medical records.
Family medical history and their details.
Other medical service providers’ commentary, diagnosis and test results.
Why we collect personal information
We collect personal information when it is reasonably necessary to conduct the services we offer.
How we collect information
There are a few different ways Ultimate Aged Care collects client information. Most information is collected directly from the client via:
Information from a client registration form
Face to face
Over the phone
From a direct referral from another provider
Ultimate Aged Care may also collect personal information throughout our relationship with clients. For example, we may collect personal information:
When a client pays their bill or makes an appointment
During a consultation
Completing a form
Ultimate Aged Care may collect client data from our website viewers via the use of cookies and other digital identifiers. It’s important to know you can clear cookies or digital identifiers from your device and also disable future use of them by changing the security settings on your web browser, however, doing this might mean that parts of our website(s) or apps may not work as they should.
What we collect from others
Other people might provide Ultimate Aged Care with personal information about our clients. This may include information obtained from:
An employer, parent or guardian if the client is under 18.
Other companies that are able to disclose information to us, if it’s not practical to collect it from the client, including personal information from trusted sources and professional service providers.
How we use information
Ultimate Aged Care may use client information within a wider group of professional service providers that may include:
Ultimate Aged Care employees and contractors.
Case Managers.
Support WOrkers
Medical Practitioners.
Allied Health Professionals.
Other third parties such as Medicare, DVA, NDIA, private health insurers, and if necessary, Collection Agencies.
Other parties reasonably expected to be included in the treatment of any client case.
When our service involves other parties, such as doctors or other allied health professionals, we will only provide them with the information they need to provide and manage their relationship with the client.
How we share client information
Ultimate Aged Care works with third parties to provide different types of support. There are times when Ultimate Aged Care needs to share client information to other health providers such as GPs and Specialists. These companies are subject to strict controls that protect client information from unauthorised use or disclosure and limits their access to personal information to the extent necessary to do their job.
Ultimate Aged Care is committed to safeguarding the information provided to us. We have in place suitable and reasonable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure information and protect it from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.
Legal obligations and other privacy exceptions
Ultimate Aged Care gives access to personal information where we are permitted or obliged to do so by Australian law. For example, in some circumstances we will use or disclose personal information to react to unlawful activity, serious misconduct, or to reduce or prevent a serious threat to life, health or safety. Ultimate Aged Care is obliged to cooperate with law enforcement bodies in some circumstances. We may disclose personal information, including information about phone calls and service use, when we receive an access request or warrant that is authorised under Australian law.
Others
Ultimate Aged Care will only disclose personal information to others if the client has given us permission, or if the disclosure relates to the main reason we collected the information and the client would reasonably expect us to do so.
Marketing
We may use personal information from clients to send marketing and special offers which are targeted towards relevant interests, characteristics or location. This marketing could be distributed to clients via mail, phone, email, text, social media or online.
All marketing emails, texts and letters distributed by Ultimate Aged Care Healthcare will clearly identify how clients can opt out from receiving marketing promotions and advertising.
How we store and protect client information
Client information is stored within Ultimate Aged Care’s database which is securely protected to ensure client information remains confidential. We protect client information by ensuring:
Secure work environments and workflow systems that prevent unauthorised access and copying of your personal information.
Secure server and closed network environments.
Only storing client information in software systems that have relvent security controls
Virus scanning tools.
Management of access privileges, to ensure that only authorised personnel can access personal information.
Ongoing training and security reviews.
Staff are trained to access client information only when it is necessary and will not share the information with people not directly involved in the clients care.
Ultimate Aged Care will remain vigilant with efforts to protect client personal information.
Clients accessing their personal information
A client may request access to their personal information. The identity of the client will always be confirmed prior to the provision of personal information. Under Australian privacy laws there are situations where we may not give access to the requested personal information. For example, information cannot be revealed if it would unreasonably affect someone else’s privacy or if it poses a serious threat to someone’s life, health or safety.
A request from a client to access their personal information should be directed to their Ultimate Aged Care Provider, a Ultimate Aged Care Receptionist or via email to: agedcare@ulthealth.com.au
Quality of personal information
Ultimate Aged Care aims to keep personal client information accurate, up-to-date and complete. If there is information which needs to be updated or changed, clients are encouraged to email agedcare@ulthealth.com.au
Complaints and breaches
If a client or a staff member have a complain about Ultimate Aged Care’s dealings with clients personal information, including any breaches of any Australian Privacy Principles or have any questions regarding this privacy statement, they are able to submit a complaint or query to agedcare@ulthealth.com.au