Privacy Policy

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At Sydney General Surgeons, we are committed to protecting the privacy of our patients. We handle personal and sensitive health information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). By using our services or this website, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this policy.

Information We Collect

To provide high-quality surgical care, we must collect personal and sensitive information, including:

Contact Details: Name, address, phone number, and email.
Identifiers: Medicare, DVA, and private health fund details.
Health Information: Medical history, clinical notes, medications, pathology results, and imaging reports.

Use and Disclosure of Information

Your information is primarily used to provide optimal surgical care and treatment. We may disclose your information to:

Healthcare Providers: Your General Practitioner (GP), other specialists, or allied health professionals involved in your care.
Diagnostic Services: Pathology labs and radiology clinics.
Administrative Bodies: Medicare, hospitals, and private health funds for billing and surgical bookings.
Third Parties: We will not provide your information for legal or insurance reports without your explicit additional consent. If we are compelled by a court of law to provide your information we will inform you.

Use of AI Scribe Technology

To assist our clinical team with generating accurate and comprehensive clinical notes, we may use an Artificial Intelligence (AI) scribe tool during your consultation.

Patient Consent: We require your explicit consent before using the AI scribe. This may be obtained verbally at the start of your consultation (and recorded in your notes), in writing via our intake forms, or as outlined by signage in our practice. You have the right to request that the tool be turned off at any time.
Audio Processing: The scribe tool listens to the consultation to generate a transcript. Audio is not stored and is permanently deleted immediately after the transcription is complete.
Temporary Storage and Retention: The transcribed notes are only temporarily stored by the provider. To minimise privacy risks, our practice enforces a strict 3-day data retention period for transcriptions.
Primary Record Storage: Once your clinical notes are finalised by your practitioner, they are securely transferred to our encrypted practice management system, and the temporary data is removed from the scribe tool.
Privacy Compliance and Data Location: Our AI scribe tool provider complies with Australian privacy laws, and all data is securely stored in Australia. While the AI aims to redact identifying details like names and dates of birth, we treat all processed data with the strict confidentiality required for health records.

Communication Methods

To facilitate your care, we may communicate with you or your healthcare team via:

Phone and SMS
Post
Secure Electronic Messaging
Email or Fax (where necessary for clinical or administrative urgency)

Data Security and Storage

Your medical records are stored within a secure, encrypted, computer-based filing system. We take all reasonable steps to protect your information from unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. Physical access to our practice is restricted, and digital access is protected by industry-standard security protocols.

Accessing and Correcting Your Information

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you. If you believe any information is inaccurate or out of date, please contact our practice to request an update.

Complaints

If you have concerns about how your privacy has been handled, please contact us directly. If we cannot resolve your concern, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).