Privacy policy
How the practice collects, uses, stores and shares your personal and health information, and how to access or correct it. This policy applies to the practice of Dr Gert Tollesson trading as Brisbane Brain Surgery, and to this website.
Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane
Watkins Medical Centre, Spring Hill, or telehealth
A current GP or specialist referral is needed
At a glance
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles; Queensland health records requirements.
Identity and contact details, Medicare and fund details, referral letters, imaging, clinical notes.
The treating team, the hospital, and other clinicians involved in your care. Not sold; not used for marketing.
Access and correction on request; complaint to the practice and then to the OAIC.
What is collected and why
The practice collects only the information needed to provide neurosurgical care, to communicate with you and your other doctors, and to bill for services.
Personal information includes your name, date of birth, address, phone number and email, next of kin and emergency contacts, Medicare, DVA, health fund, WorkCover or other insurer details, and occupation where relevant to your care.
Health information includes your referral, medical history, medications, allergies, examination findings, imaging and test results, clinical notes, correspondence with other health providers, and the details of any treatment. Some of this comes directly from you; some comes from your referring doctor, radiology practices, pathology laboratories, hospitals and other specialists involved in your care.
Information is collected when you are referred, when you book, at consultations, through the forms on this website, by telephone, email and fax, and from the hospitals where you are treated. Where practical, it is collected from you directly. If you choose not to provide information, the practice may not be able to provide treatment safely.
This website
The website records standard server logs (IP address, browser, pages visited, time of visit) for security and to keep the site running. It does not use advertising trackers. Information entered into the consultation request or referral forms is sent to the rooms and handled as described here; it is not stored on the website beyond what is needed to deliver it. Cookies, where used, are limited to those required for the site to function and for aggregate visitor statistics.
How information is used and shared
Your information is used for your care, for the administration of the practice, and for the purposes you would reasonably expect. It is not sold and is not used for direct marketing.
- Your treating teamDr Tollesson, the practice staff, and the anaesthetists, assistants and nursing staff involved in your treatment.
- Other health providersYour referring doctor and GP, radiologists, pathologists, oncologists, endocrinologists and other specialists involved in your care, and the hospital where you are treated. A consultation letter goes to your referrer after each appointment.
- PayersMedicare, your health fund, DVA, WorkCover or another insurer, to the extent needed to process claims and obtain approvals.
- Where the law requiresMandatory notifications, court orders, and public health reporting, where these apply.
- Service providersPractice software, secure messaging, transcription and IT support providers who handle information on the practice’s behalf under confidentiality obligations.
- Quality and teachingDe-identified information may be used for audit, quality improvement and education. Identifiable information is used for these purposes only with your consent.
Information is not disclosed to anyone else without your consent, unless the law requires or permits it. Where information is sent overseas (for example, through a cloud service with servers outside Australia), the practice takes reasonable steps to ensure it is protected to Australian standards.
How information is stored and protected
Records are kept securely, for as long as the law requires, and are accessible only to those who need them for your care or the running of the practice.
Clinical records are held in secure practice management software with access controls, audit logs and encrypted backups. Paper records, where they exist, are stored in locked premises. Staff are bound by confidentiality obligations and are trained in the handling of health information.
Health records are retained for at least seven years after the last entry for adults, and for children until at least the age of 25, in line with Queensland requirements. Records that are no longer required are destroyed securely.
If a data breach occurs that is likely to result in serious harm, the practice will notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner as required by the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.
Access, correction and complaints
You can ask to see or correct the information the practice holds about you, and you can complain if you believe your privacy has not been respected.
To request access to your records, or a copy of your imaging or correspondence, contact the rooms in writing. Identity will be confirmed before information is released. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying and administration; there is no fee for making the request. Access may be limited in the rare circumstances allowed by law, and you will be told why.
If information is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete, ask the rooms to correct it. Where the practice disagrees, a note of your request will be attached to the record.
Complaints about privacy are handled through the practice’s complaints process, described on the complaints and feedback page. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.
Contact
Privacy enquiries: Brisbane Brain Surgery, Watkins Medical Centre, Level 10, 225 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill QLD 4000. Phone (07) 3870 3708, fax (07) 3236 9555.
This policy is reviewed periodically and the current version is the one published on this page.
Dr Gert TollessonNeurosurgeon, Brisbane
Questions about this policy?
The rooms will answer them by phone during business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Nothing in these policies limits your rights under Australian law.
Request a consultation
Send your details and the rooms will call you to arrange a time. Referrals are triaged as they arrive.
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. No referral yet? The rooms will explain what to ask your GP for.
Related
Other policies and the practice contact details.