About this Policy

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1.1 Purpose​

MV Speech Pathology is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information collected and held about individuals.

MV Speech Pathology complies with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), other privacy laws that govern how private sector health service providers like MV Speech Pathology handle your personal information, including your health information, and Speech Pathology Australia’s Code of Ethics (2010).

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This Privacy Policy explains how MV Speech Pathology manages the personal information we collect, use and disclose.

Sprout Paediatrics Pty Ltd trading as MV Speech Pathology, is a private speech pathology practice, led by Director, and Speech Pathologist, Mia Villani.

 

How MV Speech Pathology handles your personal information 

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2.1 MV Speech Pathology’s Legal Obligations

In order to provide you with the health care services that you have requested, MV Speech Pathology will need to collect and use your personal information. If you provide incomplete or inaccurate information to us or withhold personal and health information from us, I may not be able to provide you with the services you are seeking.

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2.2 What information does MV Speech Pathology collect?

MV Speech Pathology will only collect the information needed for the particular function or activity MV Speech Pathology is carrying out.

MV Speech Pathology collect information from you around your health, medical and family history that is necessary to provide you with speech pathology services and to manage our relationship with you. The information MV Speech Pathology collects assists to diagnose and treat your child.

 

2.3 How does MV Speech Pathology collect health information?

MV Speech Pathology will usually collect your health information directly from you. Sometimes, MV Speech Pathology may need to collect information about you from a third party, such as a relative, or another health service provider.

 

2.4 How does MV Speech Pathology use your information?

MV Speech Pathology uses your personal information for the purpose you have given the information to us. MV Speech Pathology will use your information to provide speech pathology services to you, to manage our relationship with you and to contact you in relation to matters concerning your child's care. MV Speech Pathology may also use your information for other purposes permitted under the Privacy Act 1988.

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MV Speech Pathology may disclose your information to the following people:

• other health professionals involved in your child's treatment 

Your personal information will generally only be used by the speech pathologist involved in your care. However, on occasion your care may be provided by a number of health professionals (for example., speech pathologist, occupational therapist and/or psychologist) working or consulting together. MV Speech Pathology may disclose your information to these health professionals as part of the process of providing your child's care and to other health professionals involved in your child's care.

 

• the referrer

MV Speech Pathology will often send a discharge summary to the referrer (i.e., your medical practitioner) following discharge from MV Speech Pathology or at other times, as required for your care. If you do not wish us to provide a copy of your discharge summary to the referrer you must let us know. Also, if the referrer’s details have changed, please kindly inform MV Speech Pathology practice.

 

• relatives, guardian, close friends or legal representative

MV Speech Pathology may provide information about your child's difficulties/disorder/differences to other relatives, close personal friends, guardians, or to a responsible person for you, unless you tell MV Speech Pathology that you do not wish us to disclose your child's health information to any such person.

 

• other uses and disclosures

In order to provide the best possible environment in which to treat your child, MV Speech Pathology may also use or disclose your/your child’s personal and health information where necessary for:

• activities such as quality assurance processes, accreditation, audits, risk and claims management, patient satisfaction surveys and staff education and training

• invoicing, billing and account management

• to liaise with your health fund, Medicare or the Department of Veteran's Affairs and where required provide information to your health fund, Medicare or the Department of Veteran's Affairs to verify treatment provided to you

• the purpose of sending you standard reminders, for example for appointments and follow-up care, by text message or email to the number or address which you have provided to me.

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• other uses with your consent

With your consent, MV Speech Pathology may also use your information for other purposes, such as including you on a marketing mail list, or research. Please note, however, that unless you provide MV Speech Pathology with your express consent for this purpose, MV Speech Pathology will not use your information in this way. MV Speech Pathology will not disclose your personal information to any individual who is outside Australia.

 

2.5 Access to and correction of your health information

You have a right to access the personal and health information that MV Speech Pathology hold about you/your child. You can also request an amendment to you/your child’s personal and health information should you believe that it is inaccurate.

If MV Speech Pathology do not agree to change your medical record/personal information in accordance with your request, MV Speech Pathology will permit you to make a statement of the requested changes, and we will enclose this with your record.

 

Should you wish to obtain access to or request changes to your health record you can ask for our Privacy Officer (details below), who can give you more detailed information about MV Speech Pathology's access and correction procedure.

Please note that, MV Speech Pathology may recover reasonable costs associated with supplying this information to you.

 

2.6 Data Quality

MV Speech Pathology will take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information which we may collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up-to-date.

 

2.7 Data Security

MV Speech Pathology will take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. MV Speech Pathology use technologies and processes such as access control procedures, network firewalls, encryption and physical security to protect your privacy.

 

MV Speech Pathology will destroy or permanently de-identify any of your information which is in its possession or control, and which is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was collected provided MV Speech Pathology is not required under an Australian law or court/tribunal or otherwise to retain the information.

 

2.8 What to do if you have a complaint about privacy issues

If you have questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, MV Speech Pathology does not agree to provide you with access to your personal information, or you have or a complaint about our information handling practices, you can lodge a complaint with or contact Speech Pathology Australia Privacy Officer on the details below. They will promptly review your complaint and provide a response to you.

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2.9 How to make contact if you have a complaint about privacy issues

If you wish to make a compliant regarding your privacy, you can contact Speech Pathology Australia, privacy officer either by,

letter (Privacy Officer, Speech Pathology Australia, Level 1, 114 William Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000),

email (office@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au) 

or telephone (1300 368 835 or +61 3 9642 4899).