This information sets out how and why we collect your information at Skin Clinic Taranaki (SCT), and what it will be used for.
At SCT we respect your personal privacy and confidentiality. You directly consent to your health information being collected when you sign a patient registration form to register with SCT, or submit an online form to request contact with our team.
Maintaining your privacy is very important to us
- SCT will only collect what we need to help you
- SCT will only use what we know to improve your health
- SCT will only share clinical details that relate to your condition(s) with people in the health system who we know will look after your information the way we do, such as Taranaki District Health Board, Southern Cross or other provider with your consent.
- SCT we look after your information and keep it secure.
- At SCT your health record belongs to you – you can see it and know what we have done with it – just ask a member of staff.
- SCT never sell data or patient information.
What information do we collect?
- On registration with SCT we ask you to fill in a patient form which gives us Information about you such as your name, date of birth, gender, address, ethnicity etc which we enter into MEDTECH (our computer system)
- Information about your health comes from your GP or referrer, if you have self-referred the doctor or nurse will ask you for more information about your health conditions.
- Information about additional health services that are being provided to you.
- Information about your financial transactions around consultation charges with the clinic, including insurance information.
- At SCT we’re required to keep your information accurate, up-to-date and relevant for your treatment and care.
Patient registration information
The information provided on the registration form will be:
- Held by SCT for the sole purposes of providing you with care.
- May be used by the Ministry of Health to give you a National Health Index (NHI) number or update any changes
Other uses of your health information
At SCT your personal health information may also be used by health organisations such as Carefirst, Health New Zealand – Taranaki, insurance companies or pathology services for:
- Monitoring and improving service quality (this information will not be used or published in a way that can identify you).
- Payment.
Confidentiality and information sharing
- Your health professional may record relevant information from your consultation(s) and use it
- to provide you with appropriate care.
- When you enrol you give consent to sharing relevant health information with other health
- professionals who are directly involved in your care*
- Your health information may also be shared with other government agencies but only when permitted under the Privacy Act. It may also be shared if authorised by law.
- Your health information may be reviewed by an auditor either checking on health matters or as part of a financial audit, but only according to the terms and conditions of Section 22G of the Health Act or any subsequent applicable Act.
- You don’t have to share your health information with other health professionals* i.e. your GP, however, withholding it may affect the quality of care you receive.
Please talk to our health practitioners at any time if you have any concerns.
*Health professionals can include, but are not limited to, doctors, nurses, Māori health workers, health promoters, dietitians, pharmacists, physiotherapists, mental health workers and midwives.
We will keep your information secure and prevent unauthorised access. We work with a range of data sources and platforms, at SCT we work with third party providers to constantly evaluate our health systems and processes to ensure we are using the latest technologies to increase security.
Right to access
- You always have the right to access your health information and have it corrected.
- You don’t have to explain why you’re requesting the information, but you will be required to provide proof of your identity. If you request a second copy of that information within 12 months, you may have to pay an administration fee.
- You have the right to know where your information is kept, who has access rights, and if who has viewed or updated your information via the audit facility.
- If you ask for your health information to be corrected, SCT staff will provide you with reasonable assistance. If your healthcare provider chooses not to change that information, you can have this noted on your file.
Research
- Your health information may be used in research approved by an ethics committee or when it has had identifying details removed.
- Research which may directly or indirectly identify you can only be published if the researcher has previously obtained your consent, and the study has received ethics approval.
- Under the law, you are not required to give consent to the use of your health information if it’s for unpublished research or statistical purposes, or if it’s published in a way that doesn’t identify you.
Complaints
If you’re not happy with the way your health information is collected or used, you can talk to the SCT team/manager at any time about your concerns.
For further details see https://www.mcnz.org.nz/support/support-for-patients/your-rights-as-a-patient/
