Our Policies

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. 

What is a patient health record?

It means any and all information or data regarding a patient including information relating to his or her identity, demographic profile, health status, medical history, medical records, test results, treatment or stay in a health establishment.

Why and when your consent is necessary.

When you register as a patient of our practice, you provide consent for our GPs and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible healthcare. 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. 

• Medicare number (where available) for identification and claiming purposes. 
• healthcare identifiers 
• health fund details.

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. We also use it for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and business processes (e.g. staff training). 

What personal information do we collect? 

The information we will collect about you includes your:

• names, date of birth, addresses, contact details. 
• medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, immunisations, social history, family history and risk factors. 

Dealing with us anonymously.

You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym unless it is impracticable for us to do so or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals. 

How do we collect your personal information? 

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

1. When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration. 
2. During the course of providing medical services, we may collect further personal information. 
3. 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
• other involved healthcare providers, such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, 
• community health services and pathology and diagnostic imaging services
• your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (as necessary). 

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

We sometimes share your personal information:

• 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 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)
• during the course of providing medical services, through eTP, My Health Record (eg via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary).
• Our medical practice uses specialised software to customise referral templates, ensuring only essential patient information is included.Our software is designed to customise referral templates, ensuring that referring physicians provide essential details such as patient demographics, medical history, and specific reasons for referral

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

How do we store and protect your personal information?

Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms.

• We store all records electronically. 
• Our practice stores all personal information securely. 
• Our system is a secure system that is password protected. 
• Our practice ensures informed consent is obtained for recording, storing, and duplicating consultations, including Telehealth sessions. If consultations are not recorded, our policy explicitly states this to maintain patient confidentiality and privacy

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 medical records. We require you to put this request in writing and email to us on info@curewellmedical.com.au and our practice will respond within a reasonable time. We will endeavour to respond within 7 days and start the process once payment of $50 is made. 

Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time to time, 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@curewellmedical.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. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure. You can email the practice manager at manager@curewellmedical.com, send us a letter to 441A Ocean Beach Road Umina NSW  2257 or call us on 4314 7010. We will endeavour to get back to you about your complaint within 10 business days.  

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. 

Policy review statement

Our privacy policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may occur. We will update this via our social media and in the practice. 

Next review date February 2025

Appointments

To book an appointment please call the practice on 4314 7010 or you can book online at curewellmedical.com.au. Emergencies will be given priority.

Telephone consultations are readily available, you can book online or over the phone.

Longer Consultations

Longer consultations are available please advise the reception staff if you require extra time. Please note that the fee is higher for a longer consultation.

Walk-in Appointments

We welcome walk-ins! If you choose to walk in, you will be seen by the first available healthcare provider, and there may be a wait time. Alternatively, we can schedule an appointment for a later time that best suits your convenience.

Practice Services

We offer a range of services including but not limited to

• Health and Medical Assessments
• Immunisations (Children & Adults)
• Women’s and Men’s Health
• ECG’s
• Spirometry
• Iron Infusions
• Mental Health Consults & Plans
• Minor Operations & Procedures
• Sexual Health
• Skin Cancer Checks & Procedures
• Travel Immunisations
• Weight Loss Management
• Workcover appointments                                                        

After Hours & Emergency Care

For chest pain or any other medical emergency, please dial 000 straight away.

For after-hours appointments, you can reach 13 SICK (7425).

 

Home Visits

Please contact the surgery to arrange a home visit. Home visits are offered at the doctor’s discretion and must be within a certain distance.

 

Communication/ Telephone Policy

If a patient or specialist calls, we will endeavour to put you through to the doctor when we can. Otherwise, we will take down your details and pass them onto the doctor. The doctor will either call you or ask us to book a telephone consultation. We will only interrupt a consultation if the matter is urgent.

If you wish to communicate via email, you can by emailing us at info@curewellmedical.com.au

We will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible. We will sometimes need to send you documents via email. If this is the case, we will confirm your email address. We do this to ensure the privacy of our patients.

Test Results

Once we receive your test results the doctor will review them, once reviewed you will receive an automated text message. The text message will advise either no follow-up appointment needed or to book a non-urgent appointment. You can do so by calling us or booking online. If the result is urgent the doctor will call you directly.

Fees and Billing Arrangements

We are a mixed billing practice. Fees are payable at the time of your consultation. Patients over 75 and children aged 15 and under will be bulk billed. Fees are as below.

Consult	Fee	Rebate	Gap
Standard Non-Pensioner	$82.85	$42.85	$40.00
Standard Pensioner / DVA / Concession (17-64 years)	$62.85	$42.85	$20.00
Long consult Non-Pensioner (17-64 years)	$132.90	$82.90	$50.00
Long consult Pensioner / DVA / Concession (17-64 years)	$112.90	$82.90	$30.00
Mental health care plan	$153.70	$103.70	$50.00
Mental health care plan review	$121.70	$81.70	$40.00
Procedures: May vary depending on procedure			$50 - $500

Patients without Medicare will incur a private fee of $90 for a standard consult (10 mins) and $130 for a long consultation (20 mins). 

For telephone consultations patients need to have at least one face to face at this practice in the last 12 months to be eligible for a rebate. For those that aren’t eligible, the fee will be $60. 

Reminder System

Our practice is committed to preventative healthcare. You will receive an SMS reminder when due for Care plans, Injections etc. If you wish to not receive these messages, please let reception staff know and we will opt you out of these reminders. You will also receive reminders for your appointments via SMS. Please advise staff if you do not wish to receive these.

Management Of Patient Health Information

Our practice is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your health information. For more details please ask staff to view our privacy policy.

Patient Rights 

As our patient you have the right and are encouraged to participate in the decisions regarding your healthcare.

Referrals 

Our practice regularly engages with local health services, such as specialists, allied health & hospitals. If required, your GP will provide sufficient information (A referral letter) to plan and facilitate optimal patient care.

Patient Feedback

If you wish to provide us with your valuable feedback, there are a couple of ways you can do this. We have a suggestion/feedback box in the waiting room for you to provide your suggestions and/or feedback, or we have a patient feedback survey you can complete. 

Please let reception know if you would like the feedback survey.

Complaints

If you wish to make a complaint about any of the staff and/or the practice, please put your complaint in writing via email to manager@curewellmanager.com.au

The manager will be in contact with you within 3 business days to discuss your complaint and how we can rectify the issue. 

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 ww.oaic.gov.au or call them on 1300 363 992.

Patients Who Require Communication Services

Patients who require communication assistance are asked to please let reception know when making the appointment. We will then organise the required assistance.

Business Hours
Monday-Friday: 8am to 5pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed

Practice Doctors
Dr Peter Badeer
Dr John Gabra

Contact information
Address: 441a Ocean Beach Rd, Umina Beach 2257
Phone: 4314 7010
Email: info@curewellmedical.com.au