Privacy Policy

March Ahead Privacy Policy 

Current as of August 2024

Introduction

Welcome to March Ahead. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in a safe and responsible manner. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you use our telehealth and in-person psychiatric report-writing service.

This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our patient, on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with third parties. 

Why and when your consent is necessary 

When you contact our practice, you provide consent for our Psychiatrist, clinicians, and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible service. Only staff who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If we need to use your information for anything else, we will seek additional consent from you to do this. 

Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information? 

Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide healthcare services to you. Our main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your health and facilitate your report requested from DVA. We also use it for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and business processes (eg staff training). 

What personal information do we collect? 

The information we will collect about you includes your:

· names, date of birth, addresses, contact details, email address 

· medical information including medical history, psychiatric evaluations, treatment plans, medications, allergies, adverse events, social history, family history and risk factors and other health-related information

· DVA report request details

· Military service history 

How do we collect your personal information? 

Our practice may collect your personal information in several different ways.

1. When you make your first contact with our practice staff, they will collect your personal and demographic information via your DVA report request and intake forms.

2. During the course of consultation, clinical staff may collect further personal information. 

3. We may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send us an email or SMS, telephone us, make an online appointment or communicate with us using social media. 

4. In some circumstances personal information may also be collected from other sources. Often this is because it is not practical or reasonable to collect it from you directly. This may include information from:

· your guardian or responsible person or partner

· other involved healthcare providers, such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals and community health services 

· Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)

· DVA advocate

When, why and with whom do we share your personal information?

We sometimes share your personal information:

· with the DVA

· with third parties who work with our practice for business purposes, such as accreditation agencies or information technology providers – these third parties are required to comply with Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and this policy 

· with other healthcare providers

· when it is required or authorised by law (eg court subpoenas) 

· when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent

· to assist in locating a missing person

· to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim

· for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process 

· when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (eg some diseases require mandatory notification)

Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing medical report writing services or as otherwise described in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.

We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.

Telehealth has become a critical part of Australia’s healthcare system and provides increased access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable populations. Telehealth should facilitate a person’s access to high-quality, patient-centered health services when and where it suits them and based on their needs. The telehealth consultation is not recorded. 

How do we store and protect your personal information?

We implement a variety of security measures to protect your personal information. These measures include physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards. However, no security system is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee the security of our systems 100%.

Your personal information may be stored in various forms including paper and electronic records, within our medical software etc. Our practice stores all personal information securely with confidentiality agreements with staff, secured on medical software platforms, and privacy protected password. All paper notes are destroyed once uploaded onto the software and report document.

How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?

You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.

Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their psychiatric report or medical records provided to us. We require you to put this request in writing, such as an email to info@marchahead.com.au, and our practice will respond within a reasonable time, e.g. 1 week.

Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. We will ask you to verify that your personal information held by our practice is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing to info@marchahead.com.au  

How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?

We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing, please address it to info@marchahead.com.au. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure.

Please address to:

March Ahead

42 Manilla Street

East Brisbane

QLD 4169

Phone number : 0734351513

You may also contact the OAIC. Generally, the OAIC will require you to give them time to respond before they will investigate. For further information visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC on 1300 363 992. Alternatively contact your relevant state or territory health authorities/ombudsman.

Privacy in out Website and Statement for Cookie Data Collection

At March Ahead, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled responsibly. This Privacy Statement outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard information obtained through the use of cookies on our website.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners.

How We Use Cookies

We use cookies for several purposes, including but not limited to:

1. Improving Website Performance: Cookies help us understand how visitors use our website, allowing us to optimize performance and user experience.

2. Personalisation: We may use cookies to tailor content and advertisements to your interests and preferences.

3. Analytics: Cookies enable us to gather information about website traffic and usage patterns, which helps us analyse trends, administer the site, and track user interactions.

Types of Cookies We Use

1. Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the operation of our website and enable core functionality such as page navigation and access to secure areas. You may disable these cookies, but certain parts of the site may not function properly.

2. Analytics Cookies: These cookies collect information about how visitors use our website, such as which pages are visited most frequently. This data is aggregated and anonymous, and helps us improve our website.

3. Advertising Cookies: We may partner with third-party advertising networks to display relevant ads on our website or other sites you visit. These cookies may track your browsing habits and interests to provide targeted advertising.

Your Choices Regarding Cookies

You have the option to accept or not accept cookies when you visit our website. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can modify your browser settings to decline cookies if you prefer. However, please note that disabling cookies may affect your experience on our website and limit certain features.

Your Consent

By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this Privacy Statement. If you have any questions or concerns about our use of cookies, please contact us at info@marchahead.com.au

For Social Media

Privacy Policy for Social Media Usage

At March Ahead, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard data obtained through our social media activities and interactions.

Information We Collect

When you interact with March Ahead through social media platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), we may collect certain information, including:

1. Publicly Available Information: This may include your social media username, profile picture, and any public information you share on our social media pages or channels.

2. Direct Communications: We may collect information you provide directly to us through private messages, comments, or other interactions on our social media platforms.

3. Analytics: We may use analytics tools provided by the social media platforms to collect data about user engagement, demographics, and other relevant metrics.

How We Use Your Information

We may use the information collected through our social media activities for the following purposes:

1. Communications: We may use your information to respond to your inquiries, comments, or messages on social media platforms.

2. Customer Support: Your information helps us provide customer support and address any issues or concerns you may have.

3. Marketing and Promotions: We may use your information to deliver targeted advertisements, promotions, or other marketing materials on social media platforms.

4. Analytics: We use analytics data to analyse user engagement, measure the effectiveness of our social media campaigns, and improve our overall marketing strategy.

Disclosure of Information

We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist us in managing our social media activities or carrying out promotional campaigns. We may also disclose your information if required by law or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

Your Privacy Choices

You have the option to control the information you share on social media platforms and adjust your privacy settings accordingly. You can also choose not to interact with March Ahead on social media or refrain from providing personal information through these channels.

Security Measures

We take reasonable precautions to protect the security and integrity of your personal information collected through social media platforms. However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the intern et or electronic storage is 100% secure.

Policy review statement

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on our website and updating the effective date. Your continued use of the Service after the changes are made will signify your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

By using our Service, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to our collection, use, and sharing of your information as described herein.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at: