Legals & Terms
This page covers sections 8 through 16 of our privacy policy — from care for young people, through to how we keep information secure, how you can access your records, and how our website works.
About this policy
Village Cardiology is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal and health information respectfully and securely. This Privacy Policy explains how personal and health information is collected, used, stored and disclosed when you receive care at Village Cardiology or communicate with our practice. We handle personal and health information in accordance with applicable Australian and New South Wales privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW).
Who we are
Village Cardiology Pty Ltd
ABN : to confirm
Level 2, The Engineworks,
9–11 Layton Street, Camperdown NSW 2050
Your health information
Health services at Village Cardiology are provided by individual medical and allied health practitioners. Your treating practitioner is responsible for the clinical health information they collect and hold about you. Village Cardiology provides shared practice administration and secure clinical information systems to support your care.
Your health information is primarily maintained electronically within our shared clinical record system. Authorised members of the Village Cardiology team may access relevant information where reasonably necessary to provide your healthcare or administer your care. This may include:
Your treating cardiologist or allied health practitioner
Other healthcare professionals involved in your care
Practice management and reception staff
Clinical staff assisting with investigations such as echocardiography and cardiac monitoring
We do not routinely maintain paper medical records on site.
Information we collect
What we collect depends on the care and services you receive. It may include:
Your name, date of birth, address and contact details
Medicare and concession card information
Emergency contact or next-of-kin details
Details of your GP, referring specialist and other healthcare providers
Medical history, diagnoses and medications
Family and social history where relevant to your care
Investigation results, medical imaging and clinical correspondence
Information provided in referrals and by other healthcare providers
Appointment and communication records
Billing and payment information
Information relevant to psychological or neuropsychological care, which may include developmental, educational, cognitive, behavioural and family information
We aim to collect only information that is reasonably necessary to provide or administer your healthcare.
How we collect your information
We usually collect information directly from you or, where appropriate, your parent, guardian or carer. We may also receive information from your GP, referring specialist, hospital, other treating healthcare professionals, pathology or imaging providers, or other healthcare organisations involved in your care. Information may be received or communicated through telephone, email, SMS, secure electronic messaging such as HealthLink, fax, referrals and clinical correspondence.
How we use your information
We may use your personal and health information to:
Provide medical and allied health care
Arrange appointments, investigations and follow-up
Communicate with you about your healthcare
Communicate with your GP, referring doctor and other healthcare professionals involved in your care
Obtain or provide relevant investigation results and clinical information
Process Medicare claims and payments
Manage our clinical and administrative services
Meet legal, regulatory and professional obligations
Support clinical quality and patient safety
We will not use your clinical contact information to send marketing emails or SMS messages without your consent.
Sharing your information
Where appropriate for your care, or where otherwise permitted or required by law, we may share relevant information with:
Your GP and referring specialists
Other doctors and healthcare professionals involved in your care
Hospitals and health services
Pathology and diagnostic imaging providers
Medicare and relevant government agencies
My Health Record
Service providers that assist us in securely operating the practice and clinical systems
Other organisations where you have provided consent
Organisations or authorities where disclosure is required or permitted by law
We only disclose information that is reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Registry
Village Cardiology supports the Congenital Heart Alliance of Australia and New Zealand (CHAANZ) Registry. For eligible patients with adult congenital heart disease, limited contact information may be provided to the CHAANZ Registry so that the Registry can contact you directly and invite you to consider participating. Participation in the Registry is voluntary, and you can decide whether or not you wish to participate.
CHAANZ REGISTRY CONTACT
Phone:
Children and young people
Village Cardiology provides care to adolescents, and some of our allied health services may also provide care to children and young people. Where appropriate, we may collect information from and communicate with a parent or guardian. How we manage information and consent will depend on the young person's age, circumstances, and capacity to make decisions about their healthcare. We also recognise that young people may have their own rights to privacy and confidentiality.
Keeping your information secure
We take reasonable steps to protect personal and health information from loss, misuse, interference and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Health information is primarily stored electronically using secure clinical information systems. Access to clinical information is restricted to authorised personnel according to their role and responsibilities.
Accessing or correcting your information
You may request access to personal or health information held about you, or ask us to correct information that you believe is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date. Please contact our Practice Manager using the details below.
We may need to verify your identity before providing access to health information. Requests will be managed in accordance with applicable privacy and health records legislation. A reasonable administrative fee may apply in some circumstances where permitted by law. We will let you know about any applicable fee before proceeding.
Privacy enquiries and complaints
If you have a question or concern about how your personal or health information has been handled, please contact our Practice Manager. We will take your concern seriously and aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may also have the right to make a complaint to the relevant Australian or New South Wales privacy authority.
PRIVACY CONTACT
Practice Manager:
Village Cardiology
Level 2, The Engineworks
9–11 Layton Street, Camperdown NSW 2050
Phone:
Email and electronic communication
We use email, SMS, secure electronic messaging, telephone and fax to communicate with patients and healthcare providers.
Electronic communication can carry privacy and security risks. We take reasonable steps to protect your information, but we encourage patients not to send unnecessary sensitive health information through ordinary email.
Email and website enquiries should not be used for urgent medical concerns.
NOT AN EMERGENCY SERVICE
Village Cardiology is not an emergency service. If you are seriously unwell or think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, call Triple Zero (000) or attend your nearest emergency department.
