Privacy Policy at Aspire Medical Centre

At Aspire Medical Centre, we prioritize the confidentiality and security of your personal health information. Here’s how we ensure your privacy:

Collection of Personal Information

We collect the following personal details from all patients:

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Medicare Details
• Address
• Emergency Contact Person
• Ethnicity

This information is entered into our secure computer system by reception staff to ensure accurate patient records and medical history allocation.

Use and Disclosure

• Confidentiality: Your medical records are held in strict confidence. We do not disclose your personal health information unless legally obligated (e.g., subpoena, court order) or in cases of certain infectious diseases.
• Emergency Contact: Your nominated emergency contact may be contacted in a medical emergency only.

Security Measures

• Access Control: Access to your personal information is restricted to authorized staff and doctors with computer login access.
• Computer Security: All computers adhere to strict login procedures to prevent unauthorized access.

Email Communication

• Security Notice: Our email communications are not encrypted, which poses a security risk when transmitting patient documents or results.
• Policy for Email: If you choose to receive documents via email, you must provide signed consent to reception@aspiremed.com.au.
• Password Protection: All documents sent via email are password-protected for added security.

Reminder System

• Ongoing Care: We provide reminders and recall services for immunizations, pap smears, pathology, and general health checkups through our service provider, Hotdoc.
• Communication Methods: Reminders may be sent via SMS, phone, or letter. Please inform reception if you prefer to opt-out of this service.

Test Results and Follow-up Appointments

If your GP orders blood, radiology, or other tests during your consultation, they will usually let you know how long it will take for our practice to receive the test results. Most results are available within 5 working days, though the timeframe may vary depending on the specific tests conducted.

• Appointment Requirements: All results, repeat prescriptions, medical certificates, and referrals require an appointment.
• Receiving Test Results
  • Patients will receive an SMS notification when test results are available and deemed clinically significant. If there are no concerning findings, no message will be sent. If you are still experiencing symptoms or have concerns about the results, you can schedule an appointment to discuss them with your GP. It is the patient’s responsibility to arrange the appointment.
  • Results may be discussed during follow-up appointments.
  • You can schedule a consultation with your doctor to discuss your non-clinically significant results, and the appointment will be billed to Medicare or your private health insurance.

• Understanding Test Results
  • Doctors will explain the significance of the results and any necessary actions.
  • Patients are encouraged to ask questions for clarification.
• Scheduling Follow-Up Appointments
  • Follow-up appointments can be scheduled to review test results in detail.
  • Regular follow-ups may be recommended based on test findings and treatment plans.
• Managing Ongoing Care
  • Follow-up visits help monitor progress and adjust treatment as needed.
  • Patients should keep track of any new symptoms or concerns to discuss during appointments.