This Privacy Policy sets out how Bowen Health Therapy manages personal information provided to or collected by it.
Bowen Health Therapy is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act). In relation to health records, Bowen Health Therapy is also bound by the New South Wales Health Privacy Principles which are contained in the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (Health Records Act).
Bowen Health Therapy may, from time to time, review and update this Privacy Policy to take account of new laws and technology, changes to Bowen Health Therapy ’s operations and practices and to make sure it remains appropriate to the changing legal environment.
What kinds of personal and sensitive information does Bowen Health Therapy collect and how does Bowen Health Therapy collect it?
Information, including health and other sensitive information, about:
- name, contact details (including next of kin), date of birth, gender, language, background,
- medical information (e.g., details of disability and/or allergies, medical reports and names of doctors)
- health fund details
Personal information you provide
Bowen Health Therapy will generally collect personal information held about an individual by way of forms filled out by an individual, consultations, email, and telephone calls.
How will Bowen Health Therapy use the personal information you provide?
Bowen Health Therapy will use personal information it collects from you for the primary purpose of collection, and for such other secondary purposes that are related to the primary purpose of collection and reasonably expected by you, or to which you have consented.
The purposes for which Bowen Health Therapy uses personal information of clients include:
To provide specific treatment relating to the individual patient/client.
Who might Bowen Health Therapy disclose personal information to and store your information with?
Bowen Health Therapy may disclose personal information, including sensitive information, held about an individual for the following purposes: –
- as required by a medical practitioner
- anyone you authorise Bowen Health Therapy to disclose information to; and
- anyone to whom we are required to disclose the information to by law.
- NSW Department of Health
Sending and storing information overseas
All information relating to a Client/Patient is held and stored in Australia in compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles or other applicable privacy legislation.
Bowen Health Therapy, as part of its Disaster Recovery system, synchronises its data, including personal information, to a Disaster Recovery site with strict conditions that the data remains in Australia.
How does Bowen Health Therapy treat sensitive information?
In referring to ‘sensitive information’, Bowen Health Therapy means information relating to a person’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion, trade union or other professional or trade association membership, philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation or practices or criminal record, that is also personal information, health information about an individual.
Sensitive information will be used and disclosed only for the purpose for which it was provided or a directly related secondary purpose, unless you agree otherwise, or the use or disclosure of the sensitive information is allowed by law.
Management and security of personal information
Bowen Health Therapy is required to respect the confidentiality of all Client/Patients personal information and the privacy of individuals.
Bowen Health Therapy uses a Practice Management System to record and store data. This system is used by many clinics and allied health practitioners.
Information entered into this system is segregated into two areas.
- Personal Information and:-
- Sensitive Information
The system provider is also obligated to compliance with the Australian Privacy Act and Privacy Principles.
Bowen Health Therapy has in place steps to protect the personal information Bowen Health Therapy holds from misuse, interference and loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure by use of various methods including locked storage of paper records and password access rights to computerised records.
Access and correction of personal information
Under the Commonwealth Privacy Act and the Health Records Act, an individual has the right to obtain access to any personal information which Bowen Health Therapy holds about them and to advise Bowen Health Therapy of any perceived inaccuracy. Clients/ Patients will generally be able to access and update their personal information themselves.
Data Breaches
Any Data Breach will be assessed and if considered to be a serious Data Breach as described by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), will be reported to the OAIC according to their requirements.
A data breach happens when personal information is accessed or disclosed without authorisation or is lost. If the Privacy Act 1988 covers your organisation or agency, you must notify affected individuals and us when a data breach involving personal information is likely to result in serious harm.
Enquiries and complaints
If you would like further information about the way Bowen Health Therapy manages the personal information, it holds or wish to complain that you believe that Bowen Health Therapy has breached the Australian Privacy Principles please contact Bowen Health Therapy by telephone or in writing. Bowen Health Therapy will investigate any complaint and will notify you of a decision in relation to your complaint as soon as is practicable after it has been made.