Patient Privacy Statement
Australis Specialist Pain Clinic — how we look after your health information
To provide you with safe, high-quality care, Australis Specialist Pain Clinic collects, uses and stores your health information. We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020.
How we collect your information
We collect health information in two ways:
• Directly from you — at your appointments and through our forms, such as the pre-triage form.
• Indirectly, from others — to build a complete and safe picture of your health, we also collect information about you from other people and organisations. Under Rule 3A of the Health Information Privacy Code, we make you aware when we do this. These sources may include your referrer and GP; ACC or another funder or insurer; radiology and laboratory providers; previous and current treating clinicians; shared health records such as HealthOne; and, with your involvement, your family or whānau and support people.
If we collect information about you indirectly in a situation this statement does not cover, your clinician will let you know.
How we use AI tools
We use secure dictation and transcription tools, including AI-assisted scribes, to help document consultations, and AI to help summarise documents. All tools we use are vetted for privacy compliance, and all documentation is reviewed and signed off by a clinician.
How we store and protect your information
• Your information is held securely in our clinical record system and practice systems, with access limited to the clinicians and administrators involved in your care, who are all bound to maintain strict confidentiality.
• We keep your health records for at least 10 years after your last treatment, and then dispose of them securely.
How we share your information
We share your information only to support your safe, ongoing care, or where the law allows or requires it. This may include:
• Your GP and other health professionals involved in your care, including referrals and team (multidisciplinary) or radiology discussions.
• ACC or another funder of your care, and ACC-funded programme providers.
• Our indemnity or legal advisers, for professional advice — on a de-identified basis.
• Without your consent only where permitted or required by law — for example a serious and immediate threat to someone's life or health, a criminal proceeding, child-safety concerns, or reporting to the Director of Land Transport Safety.
You can ask us not to share your information. We will talk with you about any limits you would like and what they may mean for your care.
Your rights
You can ask us to confirm what information we hold about you (both collected directly and indirectly), ask for a copy of it, and ask us to correct it if you believe it is wrong.
Contact us
If you have any questions, would like to access or correct your information, or wish to discuss any limits on sharing, please contact our Privacy Officer at office@australismedical.com or 03 379 4715.