Patient privacy

Health information includes your personal details, health status, and medical and social history. This information is kept in your medical record, and many details are stored electronically. This information must clearly distinguish you from other patients, so it needs to be detailed and accurate.

Staff (including students and trainees) treating and caring for you need access to your personal health information so that they can plan and provide you with the best possible treatment and care.

Although the supply of your health information is voluntary, except where the collection of this information is required under legislation (see later), staff have an obligation to record details of any services they provide to you. Where you decide to withhold or restrict access to your health information, you should be aware that this could affect your treatment and care, especially if this information is directly related to any future treatment and care you may require.

Some of your health information may be used to plan for future services and to help the RAH improve the quality and safety of its patient services.  Wherever possible, we will ensure that any information used for these purposes cannot identify you.

Your medical record is an essential means of communication between your treating doctor and other health providers, such as nurses, pathologists, radiologists, and physiotherapists. These providers must have access to your personal health information to provide the best care for you.

The RAH is part of the wider public hospital and health system in South Australia. Some health information stored electronically by this hospital is made available through computer systems to other health care providers in the public hospital and health system involved in your care. This exchange of information also ensures that, wherever you are treated, health staff will have immediate access to your medical record, especially in an emergency.

When you go home, your treating doctor usually sends a discharge letter to your local doctor or other relevant care providers, such as the Royal District Nursing Service or domiciliary care services. This letter summarises the treatment and care you will have received. It provides any special instructions or information that your local doctor or other health providers need to know for your further care.

Sometimes, your local doctor or other health providers may request more information on your treatment and care at this hospital to provide you with any further care you may need. If you prefer that this information is not provided to others, please discuss this with the staff caring for you.

Laws, such as the Public and Environmental Health Act, the South Australian Health Commission Act and the Motor Vehicles Act, require doctors to report certain information on patients who have specific medical conditions.

Some authorities are legally entitled to certain information about matters such as Medicare eligibility, the registering of births and deaths, and circumstances of death.

Except for certain legal exemptions under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, you have the right to request access to your medical record and any other document kept by this hospital. You may do this either personally or through another person that you nominate.

You also have a right to a copy or to view this record and apply to have it amended if you believe any information it contains is incorrect, out-of-date or misleading.

A fee may be charged for dealing with your FOI application but may be waived in some cases.

If you require further information, you can request a copy of our Information Privacy Policy by contacting the CALHN FOI team, who can assist you if you have any concerns related to the privacy of your personal health information.

The RAH has a commitment to teaching and has formed a strong association with local and some interstate universities. We have made a commitment to these universities to provide teaching and practical experience to their medical students, student nurses, midwives, allied health and other health-related professionals. This means that, as part of their education, these students and trainees visit this hospital and work alongside our staff, as members of the treating team, to gain experience in applying their knowledge.

As a patient of this hospital, your personal health information may be used in teaching students and trainees under the supervision of our staff. In these circumstances, your information will be treated confidentially by students, trainees and their teachers.

Your personal health information may also contribute to medical research. All research undertaken in this Hospital is approved by an ethics committee and performed in accordance with National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines.

Although you are not obliged to take part in any particular teaching or research activity, if you are invited to participate, you will be provided with further information about that activity. If you have any concerns about teaching or research activities at this hospital, please discuss these with your treating doctor or nurse.

Address
Department of Human Services
PO Box 287
Rundle Mall SA 5000

Phone 8226 6963
Fax 8226 7088

Address
Consumer Health Complaint Unit
5th Floor, East Wing
50 Grenfell Street Adelaide SA 5000

Phone 8226 8699
Toll Free 1800 182 150
Fax 8226 8602
Email ombudsman@agd.sa.gov.au

Address
GPO Box 464
Adelaide SA 5001

Phone 7322 7077
Email staterecords@sa.gov.au