Michelle Hookham will do her best to make sure that your health records: Are accurate, comprehensive, well-organised and legible; Are up to date; Have enough information to allow another practitioner to care for you; Do not contain offensive or irrelevant comments about you; Contain a summary of your care; Can be used to remind you, with your permission, to return for follow up, check-ups and reviews.
Michelle will only collect information which is relevant to your care. If you are uncertain as to why information is being requested, ask Michelle.
Providing information to other health professionals:
Michelle Hookham respects your right to decide how your personal health information is used or disclosed (for example to other health professionals). In all but exceptional circumstances, personal information that identifies you will be sent to other people only with your consent. Gaining your consent is the guiding principle.
It may be important that other health professionals involved in your care are informed of relevant parts of your health record so they can best care for you. After discussion with you, Michelle will write a letter to the other health professional, which will either be posted or given to you to take to them. If you have any concerns about this process, discuss them with Michelle Hookham.
Providing information to others:
Michelle Hookham will not disclose your personal health information to a third party unless:
You have consented to the disclosure; or the disclosure is necessary because your are at risk of harm without treatment and you are unable to give consent - for example you are unconscious after an accident; or Michelle is legally obliged to disclose the information (e.g. subpoena or court order); or the information is necessary to obtain Medicare payments or other health insurance rebates.
In any of the above cases, only information which is necessary to achieve the objective will be provided.
Using health information for quality improvement and research:
Michelle may use client health information to assist in improving the quality of care given by reviewing the treatments used in her practice.
She may also use information that does not identify you in research projects to improve health care in the community.
Wherever practicable, the information used for research will not be in a form that would enable you to be identified. The publication of research results which use your information will never be in a form that enables you to be identified without your consent.
Your health records are kept in a locked storage facility, in line with professional recommendations.
Your access to your health information:
You have access to the information contained in your health record. You may ask Michelle about any aspect of your health care including information in your record.
Information in your record can be provided to you by way of an accurate and up to date summary of your care, for instance if you are moving away and are transferring to a new practitioner.