Bendigo Chiropractic Centre Privacy Policy

Why we need to collect personal information

When you attend Bendigo Chiropractic Centre as a patient, you provide consent for our chiropractors and practice staff to collect, access, use and disclose your personal information for the purpose of providing you with chiropractic care.

Your personal information is treated as confidential and is handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws, including the Privacy Act (1988). The primary purpose of collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your health and provide safe, effective chiropractic care at the Bendigo Chiropractic Centre. We may also use your information for practice administration and business operations, including appointment scheduling, billing, health fund claims, Medicare processing and payment management.

If we need to use or disclose your information for a purpose not directly related to your care or the operation of the practice, we will seek your consent unless otherwise authorised or required by law.

We do not sell your personal information or contact details to third parties, nor do we permit others to use your information for their own marketing purposes.

Other than in the course of providing chiropractic care, or as otherwise outlined in this policy, we will not disclose your personal information to third parties without your consent. An exception may apply where selected third-party service providers assist us in operating our practice and maintaining patient communications, such as appointment reminder services.

How Do We Collect Your Personal Information?

We may collect your personal information in several ways during the course of providing chiropractic care, including:

when you first contact our practice to enquire about services or book an appointment
when you complete patient registration forms and provide demographic and contact information.
during consultations, examinations and treatment, when we collect information relevant to your health and clinical care
when you communicate with us by telephone, email, SMS, online forms or in person
when you interact through our website, including online forms, enquiries and appointment booking mechanisms
with your consent, from other healthcare providers or organisations involved in your care where it is not practical or reasonable to collect the information directly from you. This may include diagnostic imaging providers, general practitioners, specialists, allied health practitioners and Medicare.
through administrative processes associated with managing your appointments, payments and health records.

What Type of Personal Information Do We Collect?

We collect only the information necessary to provide safe, high-quality chiropractic care and to manage the operation of our practice. This may include:

your name, date of birth, address and contact details.
emergency contact information.
Medicare details and health fund information.
information relating to your musculoskeletal health and presenting condition.
medical history, including medications, allergies, surgeries, procedures, accidents and injuries.
family, social and lifestyle history where relevant to your care.
clinical notes, assessments, examination findings and treatment records.
diagnostic investigation results, including X-rays, MRI scans, ultrasound reports and other relevant imaging or test results.
appointment and billing records.
correspondence relating to your care.

You may ask your chiropractor about any aspect of your chiropractic care in this practice, including the information in your patient file. You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information. You may request this in writing to:

The Practice Manager, email bendigochiropractic@icloud.com Alternatively, our phone number is (03) 54439744.

Who Do We Share Your Personal Information With?

We may disclose your personal information:

to healthcare providers involved in your care, with your consent or where otherwise authorised by law.
to selected third-party service providers who assist us in operating our practice, including information technology providers, clinical software providers, data hosting services and communication providers such as SMS appointment reminder services
to Medicare, private health insurers or other organisations involved in processing claims and payments.
where required or authorised by law, including compliance with legal, regulatory or professional obligations.

All third-party service providers engaged by Bendigo Chiropractic Centre are expected to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles and relevant privacy legislation.

Access to patient information is limited to authorised team members who require access to perform their role. Chiropractic Assistants may be present during consultations and may assist in collecting and recording information in your patient record.

All team members at the Bendigo Chiropractic Centre receive privacy and confidentiality training as part of their induction and ongoing professional responsibilities. These privacy obligations are regularly reviewed with team members to ensure patient information remains protected.

When records containing personal information are no longer required and are eligible for disposal, they may be securely destroyed using appropriate methods such as shredding or secure document destruction services.

How Do We Store and Protect Your Personal Information?

Your personal information may be stored in electronic records, archived paper records and diagnostic imaging records.

Bendigo Chiropractic Centre uses VisitBase clinical software to securely store patient information. Electronic records are protected through password-controlled access systems, encryption and other security measures designed to prevent unauthorised access, misuse, loss, alteration or disclosure.

Patient information is stored using secure cloud-based services located within Australia, protected through:

Encryption of data both in transit and at rest.
Role-based access controls and user authentication.
Device specific security measures.
Password-protected systems.
Secure backup and disaster recovery processes.
Regular software updates and security monitoring.

Paper records and hard-copy documents are stored in secure areas that are not accessible to the public.

We maintain internal policies and procedures regarding the collection, storage, access and management of personal information and regularly review our information security practices.

How We May Contact You

Where you have provided a mobile phone number, email address or other contact details, these may be used as channels to communicate with you regarding your Chiropractic care and the operation of the practice.

This may include:

appointment confirmations and reminders.
follow-up communications regarding your treatment and management at our practice.
notifications about changes to appointments or practice operations.
administrative communications relating to billing, payments or account matters.

Some communications may be sent using automated systems, such as SMS appointment reminders (these have opt out mechanisms).

Messages will be limited to what is reasonably necessary for these purposes. If you do not wish to receive appointment reminders or other communications through a particular channel, please advise our reception staff and we will update your communication preferences where practicable.

If you have questions about a message you have received from us, please contact our practice on (03) 5443 9744.

Concerns Regarding Privacy

Bendigo Chiropractic Centre takes privacy concerns seriously.

If you have any questions, concerns or complaints regarding the way we handle your personal information, please contact us in writing. Correspondence may be addressed to the Practice Manager and submitted by post, email or by leaving it at reception.

Email: bendigochiropractic@icloud.com

The Bendigo Chiropractic Centre

27 View St, Bendigo VIC 3550
Phone: (03) 5443 9744

We will acknowledge your concern and endeavour to investigate and resolve the matter in a timely and appropriate manner.