We are committed to ensuring that your personal information is kept private and confidential.

This Privacy Policy sets out how we use and manage your personal information. Personal information includes information that can identify you and information about your past and current health. As a provider of health services, we are bound by the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988. We also have professional and ethical obligations to protect your privacy and keep your personal information confidential.

1. What information do we collect?

   We will only collect information that is necessary to provide our services and carry on our dental practice. We collect the following types of personal information from patients and prospective patients:

   • Name and contact details;
   • Age, date of birth and gender;
   • Dental history and previous dentists;
   • Medical history;
   • Details about your current health and medications; and
   • Health insurance details.

   We collect personal information from you if you ask us to claim directly to your health fund when you are paying your account (through HICAPS). This includes your credit card details if you pay by credit card.

2. How do we collect your personal information?

   We collect personal information in several ways. You may be asked by us to complete a patient questionnaire and give us information we need to provide dental services to you in a safe and appropriate manner. This information includes your dental and medical history and your current health.

   You may also be asked to provide personal information verbally to our dentists or other staff members. We may also collect personal information about you from third parties if you have agreed that they can provide us with this information. For example, we may collect information from:

   • Your health care insurance provider;
   • Medicare; and
   • Other dentists, dental specialists or other health practitioners (including your General Practitioner).

   If a person is unable to provide us with personal information (e.g., a young child or someone lacking capacity), we will require this information to be provided by the patient’s legal guardian or another legally entitled person.

3. How do we use your personal information?

   We may use your personal information for any of the following purposes:

   • To assess whether we can safely provide you with our dental services;
   • To maintain and administer your patient file;
   • To invoice you for our fees;
   • To process your health insurance claims;
   • To contact you for follow-up services and check-up reminders;
   • To collect unpaid invoices; and
   • To send information to you about our dental practice.

4. How do we make sure that your information is accurate?

   We take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we collect from you is accurate, up-to-date and complete. These steps include:

   • Maintaining and updating your personal information when you attend the practice; and
   • Amending information when you let us know that any of your information has changed.

5. How do we protect and store your information?

   We provide ongoing training to our staff to ensure the personal information which we hold about you is kept confidential. We keep hard copy and electronic records of all patients’ personal information. We take steps to protect these records against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure. Hard copies are kept in locked files and electronic data is backed up and secured.

   We, or our contracted data storage providers, may use servers, systems and cloud computing providers outside Australia. We use our best endeavours to ensure that these providers comply with Australian Privacy laws.

6. When will we disclose your personal information?

   We will disclose your personal information to third parties if you have agreed that we can do so. For example, we will disclose your personal information:

   • If you ask us in writing or provide consent;
   • In emergencies, to nominated relatives or next of kin;
   • To other health professionals for second opinions or referrals; and
   • To laboratories or dental specialists (domestic or overseas).

   We may also disclose specific information (e.g. your name, address, contact details, amount owing) to debt collectors if invoices are unpaid.

   Other than as set out above, we will only disclose your information if legally required to do so by a regulatory or statutory authority.

7. Accessing your personal information

   You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you. You can contact us by writing, email, or phone. Our contact details are listed in Section 8.

   Your access request may be denied in certain circumstances:

   • We no longer hold your data;
   • Your request is frivolous or vexatious;
   • It relates to legal proceedings and disclosure is not required;
   • Providing access would be unlawful; or
   • Access is restricted or prohibited by law.

   If access is denied, we will provide written reasons. A reasonable fee may be charged for document retrieval and delivery.

8. Correcting your personal information

   To provide the best service, we rely on up-to-date records. Please notify us of any changes to your personal information (e.g., name, address, health providers) so we can update your file accordingly.

9. Our contact information and resolving your concerns

   If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this policy or our data practices, please contact us during office hours. We aim to respond promptly.

This Privacy Policy is available on our website at www.mendsstreetdental.com.au. You may also request a copy by mail or email.

Mends Street Dental Surgery
Shop 27 South Shore Piazza
83-85 South Perth Esplanade
South Perth WA 6151
admin@mendsstreetdental.com.au
(08) 9474 5164