At our endodontic practise, we recognise the importance of patient confidentiality and safeguarding their personal information. This privacy statement describes how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Only the information that is absolutely necessary for the operation of our dental practise and the provision of our services will be collected by us.

We collect patient information for the purpose of administering endodontic treatment and services. The personal information we collect could include the following:

• Name
• Contact information (telephone number, email address, and postal address).
• The medical record and health data
• Financial and billing information

This information may be collected via our website, over the phone, or in person during consultations and treatments.

If you want us to submit a claim directly to your health fund while you are making a payment on your account (using HICAPS), we will gather personal information from you. If you make a payment with a credit card, this includes the information from that card.

Multiple sources provide us with data about specific people. You may be asked to fill out a patient form so that we have all the information we need to provide you the best endodontic treatment possible. Your dental and medical records, as well as your current health status, are included here. Our endodontist and other staff members may also ask you to provide personal details over the phone.

If a patient cannot supply us with the personal information we need to offer a root canal treatment (because, they are a minor or lack the ability to do so), we will need to collect this data from a parent, guardian, carer, or other person with legal authority over the patient.

We only use and disclose personally identifiable information for the primary reason it was collected, which is to provide root canal treatment and services to our patients. This may consist of:

• Informing patients about their appointments and treatments
• Medical record and treatment plan updates
  billing and payment procedures
• Communicating with other healthcare providers engaged in the patient’s care
• To communicate with research facilities, laboratories and-or dental doctors (in Australia or abroad) so they can give you advice about your treatment.
• Consultation with a different doctor or specialist for advice

Additionally, we may use personal information for secondary purposes, such as:

• Medical activities related to our practise, procedures and post procedures.

We may disclose personal information to third parties, such as other healthcare professionals involved in the patient’s care or service providers who help us provide treatment and services. We will only disclose personal information to third parties with the explicit consent of the patient or as required or permitted by law.

If you fail to pay us when we send you an invoice, we reserve the right to share some information (such as your name, address, contact information, and the amount you owe us) with debt collection specialists we have retained.

If we are forced by law to release your personal information, we will do so only with your consent. If a government or regulatory body (such as Medicare) or a statutory body (such as a court or a tribunal) with legal powers to obtain your information requests access to your personal information, we are required to disclose that information in accordance with the Privacy Act.

We take appropriate measures to prevent unauthorised access, use, or disclosure of our patients’ personal information. We maintain secure electronic and physical patient records and restrict access to this information to only authorised personnel who require it to provide endodontics.

We make every effort to guarantee that our data storage providers are obligated to comply with the privacy laws of Australia by using our best efforts in this regard.

In line with Australian law, we may safely remove or de-identify your records after 7 years (or until you turn 25 if you are under 18).

Patients have the right to access and amend any personal information (non-medical) we maintain about them. Patients can contact us via our website, by phone, or in person to access or modify their personal information. In accordance with the APPs, we will respond to requests for access or correction within a reasonable and practical timeframe.

If patients have questions or concerns about how we manage their personal information, they can contact us via our website, by phone, or in person. Complaints will be investigated and addressed in accordance with the APPs.

We may also use the personally identifiable information we collect from our patients to provide general communication, such as health-related and pain management-related information via email or newsletter. Upon written request, patients can opt out of receiving these communications at any time.

We may periodically revise or modify this privacy policy to reflect changes in our business practices or to comply with new legal requirements. We encourage patients to periodically examine this policy so they are aware of how we handle their personal information.

If patients have any queries or concerns regarding our privacy policy or how we handle their personal information, they can reach out to us via our website, by phone, or in person.