Privacy Policy
We respect your privacy. The Royal District Nursing Service Ltd takes seriously its responsibilities to preserve the privacy of all individuals and has prepared this privacy statement to outline how we handle personal information and your right to access it. It applies to all aspects of our organisation.
It is RDNS policy to respect the confidentiality of information and the privacy of individuals. We are bound by the National Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act.
This Privacy Policy Statement may be amended from time to time to take account of new legislation and advances in technology. Any information we hold in RDNS will be governed by the most recent Privacy Policy Statement and available on request or through our website www.rdns.org.au
Collection of Personal Information
YourLife and RDNS collects personal information in order to deliver the best possible health care and service to its clients. Individual health, demographic and administrative information collected, received, and created by YourLife and RDNS is considered personal information. Only information necessary to enable YourLife and RDNS to provide a client care service is collected.
The type of personal information we may collect can include (but is not limited to) name, address, date of birth, contact details for you, next of kin, carers, your general practitioner and other people involved in your care, and information relating to any health condition for which you are being treated by YourLife and RDNS, or support care needs for which you are receiving an YourLife and RDNS service.
We obtain most of that information directly from you, or with your consent, from people like your general practitioner, hospital staff or ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) when you are referred to YourLife and RDNS for services.
We may ask you from time to time to take part in client surveys and research studies, for which your prior consent will always be obtained. You will always be able to elect not to take part in such research or surveys or refuse to withdraw from such research at any time without retribution.
If you use the website to complete an online job application form, we will only collect the information contained in that application form if you submit the form to us. This information is used to attend to your needs and enquiries. It may also be used to provide you with information about our services and careers. If you log out of the website or cancel the application prior to submitting the form, the information you had entered will be automatically deleted.
Use and Disclosure
The primary purpose of information collected is to assist in providing client care and services. Other areas where the information is used includes quality reviews, funding, legal affairs, education, research, public health and planning. Your personal information is only made available to those directly involved with providing your care or service withinYourLife and RDNS or authorized to manage the information.
For purposes of statistical analysis your personal information is de-identified. Research access to your personal information cannot take place without both your prior consent and research project approval by the YourLife and RDNS Ethics Committee.
At timesYourLife and RDNS is requested by government health funders or insurers who have contracted YourLife and RDNS to provide services to you, to provide information about your care or service direct to them. This information is subject to strict confidentiality controls and supported by the respective organisation’s Privacy Policy in line with the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988.
In some instances your personal information may also be sent to other health care providers with the aim of providing continuity of care or service, such as your GP and public hospitals and community health services. Your consent to forward information to other health care providers will be obtained from you when you are admitted to the YourLife and RDNS care and informal consent will be obtained on each occasion that the sharing of such information is appropriate to your agreed plans. If you choose not to give that consent, we may not be able to arrange appropriate care or services on your behalf. You can withdraw consent to the release of such information at any time.
Security and Protection
All information about our clients is held in a client record which includes paper based and electronic information.YourLife and RDNS meets the Australian Standards for security and protection of confidential information. Paper records are preserved and protected against heat, humidity and ultra violet light. Records are stored in specially designed record repositories. Electronic information is protected by the use of passwords and restricted user access to authorised permission levels. An internet firewall is in place to protect electronic information and as insurance, critical client information is backed up on a daily basis.
YourLife and RDNS makes all staff aware of the requirements of its privacy policy, and the need to respect the confidentiality of client information and the privacy of individuals. We regard any breach of privacy very seriously and will impose disciplinary action, including dismissal, if appropriate.
Keeping Personal Information up to Date
YourLife and RDNS takes special care to ensure that the personal information it holds is accurate and up to date. Changes to personal circumstances can be rapidly updated on our records through our Client Care Centre on 1300 364 264.
Access to Personal Information
You have the right to access your personal information. If we inadvertently record incorrect information in the client record, you may request that this be corrected.
In both instances a written request which includes proof of identification should be forwarded to the Executive Director of Nursing and Client Services, who needs to satisfy that every applicant is who they claim to be. This is to protect against improper disclosure.
We will acknowledge your request within 14 days and will respond promptly to it. In some circumstances where a substantial amount of information is requested we may charge a fee to cover the cost of locating, retrieving, reviewing and copying the requested material. If the cost is likely to be substantial, you will be informed in advance and will help you to refine your request if you wish.
In some circumstances a request for information may be denied if the request is frivolous or vexatious, poses an imminent threat to life, health or privacy of an individual or is unlawful.
Complaints
If you consider that YourLife and RDNS has breached this Privacy Policy Statement or the National Privacy Principles, or has not taken due account of your privacy in some other way, you can complain to YourLife and RDNS on 1300 364 264 or write to the Executive Director of Nursing and Client Services.
All complaints are formally recorded and followed up automatically. We undertake to respond to complaints promptly.
If you are not satisfied with our response to your complaint, you can call the Commonwealth Privacy Commission’s hotline on 1300 363 992 or the South Australian Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner toll free in regional South Australia on 1800 232 007.
How to Contact Us
If you want to contact us about our services, obtain access to or change your personal information, or make any other enquiry, please call our Client Care Centre on 1300 364 264 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to find out more