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As a patient of Glenrock Country Practice you have certain rights that must be upheld by our staff. Outlined below are some of those rights and how we apply them in our practice.
MEDICAL CARE
- To receive the care and health services that the Practice is required by law to provide.
- To receive appropriate assessment, management and treatment .
- To receive an understandable explanation from your Doctor of your complete medical condition, recommended treatment, expected results, risks involved, and reasonable medical alternatives. If your Doctor believes that some of this information would be detrimental to your health or beyond your ability to understand, the explanation must be given to your next-of-kin or guardian.
- To give informed, consent prior to the start of specified, non-emergency medical procedures or treatments. Your physician should explain to you—in words you understand—specific details about the recommended procedure or treatment, any risks involved, time required for recovery, and any reasonable medical alternatives.
- To refuse medication and treatment after possible consequences of this decision have been explained clearly to you, unless the situation is life-threatening or the procedure is required by law.
- To be included in experimental research only if you give informed written consent. You have the right to refuse to participate.
MEDICAL RECORDS
- Each time you visit the practice, Doctors, or other healthcare provider, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment.
- To have prompt access to the information in your medical record. If your Doctor feels that this access is detrimental to your health, your next-of-kin or guardian has a right to see your record.
- To obtain a copy of your medical record, at a reasonable fee, within 30 days after a written request to the clinic.
We may access information:
• provided directly by the patient;
• provided on the patient's behalf with the patient's consent;
• from a health service provider who refers the patient to medical practitioners
• from health service providers to whom patients are referred.
Personal information collected by us may be used or disclosed:
• for the purpose the patient was advised of at the time of collection of the information by us;
• as required for delivery of the health service to the patient;
• as required for the ordinary operation of our services (i.e. to refer the patient to a medical specialist or other health service provider);
• as required under compulsion of law; or
• where there is a serious and imminent threat to an individual’s life, health, or safety; or
• a serious threat to public health or public safety.
Other than as described in this Policy or permitted under the National Privacy Act, Golden Beach Medical Centre uses its reasonable endeavours to ensure that identifying health information is not disclosed to any person.
We keep health information for a minimum of 7 years from the date of last entry in the patient record (unless the patient was a child in which case the record must be kept until the patient attains or would have attained 25 years of age). This is because we are required to maintain such records under some laws.
COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
- To be informed of the names and functions of all health care professionals providing you with personal care.
- To be informed of the names and functions of any outside health care and educational institutions involved in your treatment. You may refuse to allow their participation.
- To receive, upon request, the medical center’s written policies and procedures regarding lifesaving methods and the use or withdrawal of life support mechanisms.
- To receive a summary of your patient rights that includes the name and phone number of the Practice staff member to whom you can ask questions or complain about any possible violation of your rights.
COST OF CARE
- To receive a copy of the Practice payment rates.
- If you request an itemized bill, the medical centre must provide one, and explain any questions you may have. You have a right to appeal any charges.
- To be assisted in obtaining any public assistance and private health care benefits to which you may be entitled.
TRANSFER OF MEDICAL RECORDS
Transfer of medical records from this practice can occur in the following instances
- When you, your family or guardian has made a written request,
- In instances where the practice is unable to provide you with the care you need. You can receive an advance explanation from a doctor of the reasons for your transfer and possible alternatives.
- For medico-legal reasons, eg. record is subpoenaed to court.
- Where an individual medical record report is requested from another source.
- When a patient asks for their medical record to be transferred to another practice, written consent must be obtained from the patient prior to the transfer. Upon consent, this practice will forward a photocopy or summary report to the requesting organisation only after a fee has been paid.
Fees for this are $15 for single patient
$25 for a family
PERSONAL NEEDS
- To be treated with courtesy, consideration, and respect for your dignity and individuality.
- To confidential treatment of information about you.
LEGAL RIGHTS
- To treatment and medical services without discrimination based on race, age, religion, national origin, sex, sexual preferences, handicap, diagnosis, ability to pay, or source of payment.
- To exercise, to the fullest extent possible, all your constitutional, civil, and legal rights.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
This organization is required to
- maintain the privacy of your health information
- provide you with a notice as to our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to information we collect and maintain about you
- abide by the terms of this notice
- notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction
- accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations.
QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS
- To present questions or grievances to a designated practice staff member and to receive a response in a reasonable period of time.
- We welcome your feedback, and continually strive to improve the standard of service to our patients. If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, please advise your doctor or our practice manager, so that appropriate steps can be taken to remedy the situation.
If you feel the problem is best dealt with outside our organization, please contact the NSW Government centre for handling complaints, namely:
Health Care Complaints Commission
Locked Mail Bag 18
Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
Ph: (02) 9219 7444
Should you have any further questions please click here to contact us.
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