Privacy Policy
- Last Updated May 27, 2025
At Crown Medical Skin Clinic, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal and health information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and manage your information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
Your privacy is paramount to us. We understand the sensitive nature of the information you share with a medical clinic, and we are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and security.
What Information Do We Collect?
We collect information that is reasonably necessary for us to provide you with quality healthcare services, manage our clinic, and comply with our legal obligations. This may include:
- Personal Information: Your name, address, date of birth, contact details (phone, email), emergency contact information, and Medicare or private health insurance details.
- Sensitive Information (Health Information): Your medical history, current health status, symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, medications, test results, allergies, family medical history, and any other health-related information relevant to your care.
- Financial Information: Details necessary for billing and payment processing.
- Website Usage Information: Non-identifiable data related to your interaction with our website (e.g., IP address, browser type, pages visited) collected via cookies or analytics tools.
How We Collect Your Information
We collect information in several ways:
- Directly from You: When you register as a patient, complete forms, provide information during consultations, communicate with us via phone, email, or our website, or when you book an appointment.
- From Other Healthcare Providers: With your consent, we may collect information from other doctors, specialists, hospitals, or diagnostic services involved in your care (e.g., referrals, test results, discharge summaries).
- From Third Parties: In some cases, we may collect information from third parties such as your health insurer, or government agencies (e.g., Medicare), where necessary for your care or for billing purposes.
How We Use Your Information
We use your information primarily for the following purposes:
- Providing Healthcare Services: To diagnose, treat, and manage your medical and skin conditions, and to provide comprehensive women’s health care.
- Clinic Administration: For appointment scheduling, billing, processing payments, managing patient records, and internal quality improvement activities.
- Communication: To send you appointment reminders, recall notices for follow-up care (e.g., skin checks, cervical screening), and information relevant to your health.
- Compliance with Legal Obligations: To meet our legal and regulatory requirements, including mandatory reporting, insurance claims, and responding to lawful requests from government or regulatory bodies.
- Research and Development: De-identified data may be used for clinical audit, research, or service improvement, but your personal identity will not be revealed.
- Marketing: With your express consent, we may use your contact details to send you information about our services, promotions, or health tips. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time.
Sharing Your Information
We will only disclose your information to third parties when it is necessary for your care, required by law, or with your explicit consent. This may include:
- Other Healthcare Providers: To facilitate referrals, consultations, or shared care with other medical practitioners, specialists, hospitals, or diagnostic services.
- Medicare and Private Health Insurers: For billing and claiming purposes.
- Government and Regulatory Bodies: Where legally required (e.g., public health reporting, court orders).
- Third-Party Service Providers: Such as IT support, practice management software providers, or secure data storage services, who are bound by strict confidentiality agreements.
- Emergency Situations: In situations where there is a serious threat to your life, health, or safety, or that of another person.
We will never sell or rent your personal or health information to third parties for marketing purposes.
Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal and health information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. This includes:
- Secure electronic patient management systems.
- Restricted access to patient information based on roles and responsibilities.
- Physical security measures at our clinic premises.
- Staff training on privacy and confidentiality obligations.
- Secure disposal of personal information when no longer required.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access Your Information: Request access to your personal and health information held by us. We may charge a reasonable fee for providing access, particularly for large or complex requests.
- Correct Your Information: Request that we correct any information that you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date.
- Withdraw Consent: Where you have provided consent for a specific use or disclosure of your information, you may withdraw that consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions.
- Anonymity/Pseudonymity: You have the right to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym when dealing with us, unless it is impracticable for us to do so or we are required or authorised by law to deal with identified individuals. However, for medical care, it is generally not practicable to provide services anonymously.
Cookies and Website Tracking
Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyse website traffic, and understand user behaviour. You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when websites set or access cookies. If you disable or refuse cookies, please note that some parts of our website may become inaccessible or not function properly.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any updates will be posted on our website, and the “Effective Date” at the top of the policy will be revised. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about our Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
- Practice Manager
- Crown Medical Skin Clinic
- Shop 108-110 Figtree Grove 19 Princes Highway FIGTREE NSW 2525
- Phone: 9055 4855
- Email: practicemanager@crownmedical.com.au
We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
