Health Information Privacy Statement

This Health Information Privacy Statement applies to all patients enrolled at any of our practices.

Access to your health information

You have the right to access (and have corrected) your health information under Rules 6 and 7 of the Health Information Privacy Code 1994.

Visiting another GP

If you visit another GP who is not part of Wellington Medical Group you will be asked for permission to share information from the visit with your regular GP. If you are under six years old or have a High User Health Card, or a Community Services Card, and you visit another GP who is not your regular GP, that GP can make a claim for a subsidy, and we will be informed of the date of that visit. The name of the practice you visited and the reason(s) for the visit will not be disclosed unless you give my consent.

Patient Enrolment Information

The information you have provided on the Practice Enrolment Form will be:

• held by the practice
• used by the Ministry of Health to give you a National Health Index (NHI) number, or update any changes
• sent to the PHO and Ministry of Health to obtain subsidised funding on your behalf
• used to determine your eligibility to receive publicly-funded services. Information may be compared with other government agencies but only when permitted under the Privacy Act.

Health Information

Members of your health team may:

• add to your health record to record any services provided to you and use that information to provide appropriate care
• share relevant health information to other health professionals who are directly involved in my care

Audit

In the case of financial audits, your health information may be reviewed by an auditor for checking a financial claim made by the practice, but only according to the terms and conditions of section 22G of the Health Act (or any subsequent applicable Act). You may be contacted by the auditor to check that services have been received. If the audit involves checking on health matters, an appropriately qualified health care practitioner will view the health records.

Health Programmes

Health data relevant to a programme in which you are enrolled (e.g. Breast Screening, Immunisation, Diabetes) may be sent to the PHO or the external health agency managing this programme.

Other Uses of Health Information

Health information which will not include your name but may include your National Health Index Identifier (NHI) may be used by health agencies such as the District Health Board, Ministry of Health or PHO for the following purposes, as long as it is not used or published in a way that can identify you:

• health service planning and reporting
• monitoring service quality, and
• payment.

Research

Your health information may be used for health research, but only if this has been approved by an Ethics Committee and will not be used or published in a way that can identify you.

Except as listed above, details about my your health status or the services you have received will remain confidential within the our team unless you give specific consent for this information to be communicated.

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