Privacy and Confidentiality

Why is collecting my health information necessary? 

Collecting your information allows the team caring for you to have up-to-date information, which helps give you the best possible care.

How is my information protected and who has access to it? 

Your information is kept secure and private, meeting all government regulations. Only Bass Coast Health staff involved in your care have access to your information.

How else is my information used? 

We may use information about you to improve the quality and effectiveness of our healthcare, which may include research. Staff carrying out these activities must follow strict guidelines, gain appropriate consent, and maintain confidentiality.

Information is only made available for research projects approved by our Ethics Committee following thorough investigation and review.

Staff may look at your health information to see if a research project is suited to you, and you may be approached about taking part.

You are within your rights to decline a request to participate in a research project. If you decline, your level of care and treatment will not be compromised.

In most cases, researchers will ask for your permission before using your information for research. In circumstances where this is not practicable or possible, the researchers must have special permission from the Ethics Committee and follow strict confidentiality processes.

Who else receives information about me? 

We will send a letter to your doctor after discharge. This letter summarises your stay at the hospital, your medication and any special instructions for your doctor.

We may also provide information about you to a health professional/health care facility outside Bass Coast Health who requires the information in connection with your further care and treatment.

Sometimes Bass Coast Health is legally required to release personal information about you, for the below reasons:

My Health Record
•    My Health Record (myhealthrecord.gov.au, 1800 723 471) is an Australian Government digital summary of a patient’s health information. Examples of information uploaded to your My Health Record include Discharge Summaries, Pathology and Radiology results. This may occur every time you attend our hospital, service or clinic
•    If you do have a My Health Record, but you do not want Bass Coast Health to upload your health information for this hospital attendance or appointment, advise your treating team as soon as possible
•    If you have opted out of My Health Record, no information will be sent.

Legal
•    Providing your health information when requested for evidence in a court case
•    Disclosure to liability insurers and lawyers in reporting an adverse event. 

Other
•    A notifiable disease (where there is risk to public health if there is an outbreak)
•    Health and personal information for quality and safety purposes (Health Services Act 1988), for investigating failure or to make changes for improving health services
•    Sharing current and previously collected information relating to family violence risk and the wellbeing or safety of children to permitted key organisations – to keep people safe and perpetrators of violence in view 
•    Providing information to private health funds, Transport Accident Commission, etc as appropriate 
•    Quality improvement (including complaints management) and clinical audit activities that evaluate and seek to improve the delivery of a particular treatment or service

The Victorian Department of Health has strict policies regarding the access and use of patient information. For more details about these policies, contact our Health Information Services department on (03) 5671 3154.
 

We may contact you after you leave Bass Coast Health’s care to:

Involve you in research
We may call you or send you information about research related to your condition or treatment.
We may also invite you to participate in a research study. For further information or to opt out, please contact our Research & Clinical Trials Unit via email: research@basscoasthealth.org.au

Help us improve patient care
We may contact you asking you to complete a survey telling us about your experience. This may be via email, phone or SMS. Your feedback will play a key part in helping us to improve services.
If you have any concerns regarding requests for feedback, please contact our Quality department:
Email: quality@basscoasthealth.org.au
Phone: (03) 5671 3365

How can I access my information?
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982 and the Health Records Act 2001 gives you the right to ask for access to your medical record and personal information held by Bass Coast Health. 
•    To submit a Freedom of Information request, complete the following form and send to BCH.ROI@basscoasthealth.org.au or post to PO Box 120, Wonthaggi VIC 3995:  

A fee is charged for FOI requests.

• For further information, please click on the following document:  

Complaints about privacy

If you have concerns over the privacy of your personal information, please contact our Quality Department:
Phone: (03) 5671 3365
Email: quality@basscoasthealth.org.au

There are external organisations which assist with health care complaints, including complaints about privacy. Disclosure of information may be required to the below organisations for complaints conciliation and management. 

Health Complaints Commission 
www.hcc.vic.gov.au  
Ph: 1300 582 113

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
www.oaic.gov.au 
Ph: 1300 363 992

For complaints relating to Residential Aged Care: 
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
www.agedcarequality.gov.au/contact-us
Ph: 1800 951 822

If you are a recipient of NDIS you can contact:
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
www.ndiscommission.gov.au/complaints  
Ph: 1800 035 544