Privacy Policy

At Bellpoint Health & Wellness we are committed to ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal and health information, and complies with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988.

We encourage you to read this policy thoroughly to understand how we handle your information. By engaging with our services, you agree to the terms outlined in this policy.

Purpose of this Privacy Policy

The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to explain how we manage your personal information, including your health data and metadata. It will provide you with a clear understanding of what information we may hold, how it is used, and the procedures in place to protect it. This policy covers:

• Why and when we collect your information
• How we use your information
• Disclosure of your information
• Accuracy and access to your information
• Protection of your information
• Changes to this Privacy Policy

We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of privacy and transparency, and your information is essential to us in providing the best possible care.

Why We Collect Personal Information

We collect personal information to provide the services you have requested and to support your ongoing healthcare needs. This information allows us to:

• Provide the healthcare services you require
• Understand your needs for both current and future treatment
• Develop and evaluate your health plans
• Improve our services, including our website and other materials
• Manage and operate our business and practice
• Meet our legal obligations
• Process claims with Medicare, insurers, and third-party collaborators
• Assist in the reporting and coordination with third-party health providers, including NDIS, case managers, and post-operative support teams
• Facilitate communication and report sharing with other healthcare providers

Types of Information We Collect

To assess and treat your condition, we may collect the following types of personal and health information:

• Personal details: name, address, date of birth, gender
• Health history or lifestyle information
• Occupation, employer details, and payment information
• Information regarding referrals from other healthcare providers
• Medical results, clinical and medical records
• Family medical history
• Correspondence or commentary from other healthcare providers, including diagnoses and test results

How We Collect Information

We collect personal information in a variety of ways, including:

• Directly from you, such as when you fill out forms online, visit the clinic, or speak with us over the phone
• Through referrals from other healthcare providers
• From the use of our website(s) and apps, which may use cookies and other digital identifiers to enhance your user experience

Cookies are used for the following purposes:

• Site performance: To analyse how our websites or apps are used, ensuring a better user experience
• Analytics: To gather statistics about the site’s usage, such as user numbers and popular sections
• Advertising: To deliver more relevant advertising, based on your interests and location

You may choose to disable cookies via your browser settings, but doing so may limit the functionality of certain website features.

What We Collect from Others

In certain situations, we may receive personal information from other parties, such as:

• Your employer, guardian, or parent (if you are under 18)
• Trusted sources or professional service providers when it’s not practical to collect it directly from you

We will inform you when we receive information from these sources, and how we plan to handle it.

Sharing Your Information

We may share your personal information with other professionals involved in your treatment, including:

• Case managers
• Medical practitioners
• Allied health professionals
• Other third parties involved in the coordination of your care

We may also refer you for diagnostic tests or consultations with specialists, such as radiologists or podiatrists. In such cases, we will share only the necessary information to assist with your care.

Outsourcing

We work with third-party service providers who may have access to your personal information. These parties are required to comply with strict controls to ensure your information is protected from unauthorized access.

Outstanding Payments

If there are overdue payments, we may refer your account to a debt collection agency. In such cases, we will provide them with the necessary personal information to manage the debt.

Legal Obligations and Privacy Exceptions

We may disclose your personal information in situations where we are legally obligated to do so, such as in response to unlawful activity or to prevent a serious threat to life, health, or safety. We will cooperate with law enforcement authorities as required by law.

Advertising and Marketing

To ensure we send you relevant and customized advertisements, we may use your personal information to deliver targeted marketing. However, we will not bombard you with irrelevant ads. If you prefer not to receive marketing materials, you can opt out at any time through the provided opt-out options or by contacting our office directly.

How We Protect Your Information

We employ robust security measures to safeguard your personal information, including:

• Firewalls and access logging tools
• Secure work environments and encrypted servers
• Virus scanning tools and ongoing security reviews
• Access management protocols to limit information access to authorized staff only

While we maintain strict security practices, please note that security risks may evolve, and we will continue to update our systems accordingly.

Accessing Your Information

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you. We will verify your identity before providing access, and in certain circumstances, we may refuse access under Australian privacy laws (e.g., if it would unreasonably impact someone else’s privacy or pose a threat to someone’s health or safety).

If you would like to access your information, please contact us. In most cases, there is no charge for access, but we may charge a reasonable fee if the request is complex or requires significant resources.

Quality of Personal Information

We strive to keep your personal information accurate, up-to-date, and complete. Please notify us of any changes to your details so we can continue to provide the best service and ensure other parties we work with have the necessary information.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback regarding this Privacy Policy or our practices, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact us by mail, phone, or email as listed on our website. For complaints, we will acknowledge receipt and aim to resolve any issues promptly. If you’re dissatisfied with our response, you may contact the Healthcare Complaints Commission.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as our practices evolve. Any changes will be reflected in the updated policy, which will be available for you to review.