How does MyLocalDoc use and disclose your personal information?

There are circumstances where we may be permitted or required by law to disclose your personal information to third parties. For example; Medicare, Police, insurers, solicitors, government regulatory bodies, tribunals, courts of law, hospitals, debt collection agents, the electronic transfer of prescriptions service, or the MyHealth record system.

It may also be shared with other healthcare professionals involved in your care and other persons involved in your care.

Generally, this will only happen in ways you would reasonably expect or otherwise with your consent. For example, MyLocalDoc may disclose your personal information to your GP or to a medical specialist involved in your care; to a hospital or aged care facility if you are referred for respite or higher levels of care; or to other healthcare professionals who are involved in your care such as nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, dentists, and the ambulance service. 

• In an emergency, we may provide personal information to other healthcare professionals and health services without your consent;

• We may do so to lessen or prevent a serious threat to public health and safety or it is impractical to obtain your consent;

• To assist in locating a missing person;

• To establish, exercise, or defend an equitable claim;

• For the purpose of a confidential dispute resolution process;

• When there is a statutory requirement to do so;

• During the course of providing medical services through electronic transfer of prescriptions, MyHealth Record / PCEHRsystem (i.e. Shared Health Summary, Event Summary).

Contractors and other service providers

MyLocalDoc sometimes engages third parties to perform services on our behalf and we may use and disclose personal information to facilitate these arrangements. This may include specialist care services, allied health services, and general domestic and personal care services. We may also contract other organisations to perform services on our behalf, for example, to undertake customer satisfaction surveys, IT, and practice supplier services.

 Third parties to whom we have disclosed your personal information may contact you directly to let you know they have collected your personal information and to give you information about their privacy policies.

Administration and management

MyLocalDoc will also use and disclose your personal information for a range of administrative, management, and operational purposes.

This includes:

• administering billing and payments and debt recovery;

• liaising with, and reporting to, government agencies in the administration of particular funding programs;

• administering subsidies and benefits to which you may be entitled from

• government agencies and other third-party payers (such as Centrelink, Medicare,

• Department of Social Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, and other government agencies responsible for primary care services); 

• planning, managing, measuring and monitoring, and evaluating our services;

• safety and quality assurance and improvement activities;

• statistical analysis and reporting;

• training staff, contractors, and other workers;

• risk management and management of legal liabilities and claims (for example, liaising with insurers and legal representatives);

• responding to inquiries and complaints regarding services provided to patients;

• obtaining advice from consultants and other professional advisers; and

• responding to subpoenas and other legal orders and obligations.