Purpose

This privacy policy provides information to you, our patient, on how your personal information (including health information) is collected, used, and shared within our Practice and under what circumstances it may be shared with third parties. It also tells you about your rights and how the Law protects you. 

Consent

When you register as a patient, you provide consent for our Psychiatrists and Practice staff to access and use your personal information to provide you with the best possible healthcare. Only necessary staff will have access to your information. Additional consent will be sought for any other uses.

A separate consent will be sought if the consulting Psychiatrist uses an AI-enabled documentation and dictation software (see below) to transcribe notes from the consultation. 

Collection, Use, Holding, and Sharing of Personal Information

We collect your personal information to provide healthcare services and manage your health. This includes business activities related to healthcare such as financial claims, payments, Practice audits, accreditation and staff training. It is also used to liaise with other specialists involved in your care and your GP.

 Personal Information Collected

- Names, date of birth, addresses, contact details (telephone number and email address) for yourself and next of kin, including details of any Power of Attorney or Guardian.

- Medical information (medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, immunisation details, social history, family history, risk factors)

- Medicare number for identification and claiming purposes

- Healthcare identifiers

- Health fund details

- Financial information relevant to payment of consultation fees and fees for reports and other clinical services.

Anonymity

You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym prior to registration with the service and your first consultation unless this is impracticable.

Collection Methods

- During registration and medical services.

- Electronically through eTP and 'My Health Record'.

- Via website visits, emails, SMS, phone calls, online appointments, and social media.

- From Guardians, other healthcare providers, health funds, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs when necessary.

- We use ‘Cookies’ and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our website and store certain information. Tracking technologies are used to improve and analyse our service.

- Some Psychiatrists may use AI-enabled documentation and dictation assistants as part of the consultation and assessment. This may include, but not limited to, Lyrebird, Heidi Health, PatientNotes, Dragon, etc. These are AI-enabled transcription and speech-to-text services that reliably and securely help transcribe de-identified notes from a consultation and help with faster turnaround times for reports and letters to the GPs or other specialists and services. 

Terms of their privacy policy can be found on their respective websites. 

Use of your Personal Information

To establish and maintain your engagement with our service.

To manage your referral to our service, or to refer you to another service or Specialist.

For data analysis pertaining to referral trends, website traffic, identifying areas to improve the service, and audits as part of clinical governance and professional development. 

For business purposes if there is a change in management structure in the future.

Sharing of Personal Information

We may share your personal information in situations including, but not limited to -

- With signed consent from you or your Guardian or Power of Attorney, if applicable. 

- With other healthcare providers involved in your care.

- When required by law.

- To prevent a serious threat to your, or others, health or safety.

- To assist in locating a missing person.

- For legal or insurance related claims.

- For dispute resolution.

- For mandatory disease notification.

- Through eTP and My Health Record.

We do not use your personal information for marketing without your informed consent, and you can opt-out at any time.

Storage and Protection

- Please bear in mind that no method of electronic storage is completely secure. However, our contracted medical records software systems have a very high reputation of keeping medical records reliably secure. 

- Electronic records are accessed using individual logins and passwords and are saved on a Cloud-based platform.

- Staff and contractors sign confidentiality agreements.

- Older paper records are securely stored. 

- AI-enabled digital assistant’s storage and security protocol is outlined on their Privacy Policy page on their respective website.

Our website may contain links to other websites that are not operated by Serenity Alliance. If you click on an external link, you will be directed to their website. We strongly advise you to review their respective privacy policy. Serenity Alliance has no control over, and assumes no responsibility, for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third-party websites or services.

Access and Correction

- You can request access to and correction of your personal information in writing.

- Our administrative staff will respond within a reasonable time and inform you of any costs for copying and postage.

Privacy-Related Complaints

- Complaints should be addressed to: admin@serenityalliance.online

- We will respond within 30 days

- You may also contact the OAIC (www.oaic.gov.au, 1300 363 992)

Breach Notification

- We will inform you of any breaches of your privacy in accordance with Privacy Laws.

- A Data Breach Response Plan is in place to minimize the impact.

Policy Review

- We regularly review and systematically update our policies.