PATIENT RIGHTS & POLICIES
One of the core principals at Stonefields Medical Centre is ensuring that your personal information is protected at all times and used in accordance with the Privacy Code 1994 (amended 2008). This includes the manner in which health information is collected, used, held and disclosed by health agencies. Our Privacy Officer is Dr Isobella Cheung, who ensures that our practice complies with the Privacy Code Rules. Dr Isobella Cheung is also responsible for any requests for release of any personal information of our patients, and resolution of any issues related to our privacy policy.A summary of the code is listed below:
Health Information Privacy Code Rules
Rule 1: Health information must only be collected when: the collection is for a lawful purpose, connected with what the agency does, and it is necessary to collect the information for that purpose.
Rule 2: Health information must usually be collected from the person who the information is about. But sometimes it is all right to collect information from other people instead - for instance,
•when getting it from the person concerned would undermine the purpose of the collection
•it's necessary so a public sector body can uphold or enforce the law.
•the person concerned authorizes collection from someone else.
Rule 3: When an agency collects health information from the person the information is about, it has to take reasonable steps to make sure that person knows things like:
•Why it is being collected
•Who will get the information
•Whether the person has to give the information or whether this is voluntary
•What will happen if the information isn't provided
Again, there are sometimes good reasons for not letting a person know, including that it would undermine the purpose of the collection, or it's just not possible to tell the person.
Rule 4: Health information must not be collected by unlawful means or by means that are unfair or unreasonably intrusive in the circumstances
Rule 5: It's impossible to stop all mistakes. However, agencies must ensure that there are reasonable safeguards in place to prevent loss, misuse or disclosure of health information.
Rule 6: People usually have a right to ask for access to health information about themselves. Agencies can refuse to give access in some situations, for instance because giving the information would:
•Endanger a person's safety
•Prevent detection and investigation of criminal offences
•Involve an unwarranted breach of someone else's privacy
Rule 7: People have a right to ask the agency to correct information about them, if they think it is wrong. If the agency does not want to correct the information, it does not usually have to. However, people can ask the agency to add their views about what the correct information is.
Rule 8: Before it uses or discloses health information an agency must take reasonable steps to check that information is accurate, complete, relevant, up to date and not misleading. Sometimes the information will still be wrong, but the agency needs to try to get it right.
Rule 9: Agencies must not keep health information for too long. They can only keep it for as long as is necessary to carry out the purpose for which the agency got the information in the first place.
Rule 10: Agencies must use health information for the same purpose for which they obtained that information. Other uses are occasionally permitted (for example because this is necessary to enforce the law, or the use is directly related to the purpose for which the agency got the information).
Rule 11: Agencies can only disclose health information in limited circumstances. One example is where another law requires them to disclose the information. Also, an agency can disclose information if it reasonably believes, for example, that
•disclosure is one of the purposes for which the agency got the information
•disclosure is necessary to uphold or enforce the law
•disclosure is necessary for court proceedings
•the person concerned authorized the disclosure
•the information is going to be used in a form that does not identify the person concerned.
Rule 12: Some agencies give people a "unique identifier" instead of using their name. Examples are a driver's licence number, a student ID number, or an IRD number. An agency cannot use the unique identifier given to a person by another agency. People are not required to disclose their unique identifier unless this is one of the purposes for which the unique identifier was set up (or directly related to those purposes).www.privacy.org.nz enquiries@privacy.org.nz 0800 803 909
Health Information Privacy Code Rules
Rule 1: Health information must only be collected when: the collection is for a lawful purpose, connected with what the agency does, and it is necessary to collect the information for that purpose.
Rule 2: Health information must usually be collected from the person who the information is about. But sometimes it is all right to collect information from other people instead - for instance,
•when getting it from the person concerned would undermine the purpose of the collection
•it's necessary so a public sector body can uphold or enforce the law.
•the person concerned authorizes collection from someone else.
Rule 3: When an agency collects health information from the person the information is about, it has to take reasonable steps to make sure that person knows things like:
•Why it is being collected
•Who will get the information
•Whether the person has to give the information or whether this is voluntary
•What will happen if the information isn't provided
Again, there are sometimes good reasons for not letting a person know, including that it would undermine the purpose of the collection, or it's just not possible to tell the person.
Rule 4: Health information must not be collected by unlawful means or by means that are unfair or unreasonably intrusive in the circumstances
Rule 5: It's impossible to stop all mistakes. However, agencies must ensure that there are reasonable safeguards in place to prevent loss, misuse or disclosure of health information.
Rule 6: People usually have a right to ask for access to health information about themselves. Agencies can refuse to give access in some situations, for instance because giving the information would:
•Endanger a person's safety
•Prevent detection and investigation of criminal offences
•Involve an unwarranted breach of someone else's privacy
Rule 7: People have a right to ask the agency to correct information about them, if they think it is wrong. If the agency does not want to correct the information, it does not usually have to. However, people can ask the agency to add their views about what the correct information is.
Rule 8: Before it uses or discloses health information an agency must take reasonable steps to check that information is accurate, complete, relevant, up to date and not misleading. Sometimes the information will still be wrong, but the agency needs to try to get it right.
Rule 9: Agencies must not keep health information for too long. They can only keep it for as long as is necessary to carry out the purpose for which the agency got the information in the first place.
Rule 10: Agencies must use health information for the same purpose for which they obtained that information. Other uses are occasionally permitted (for example because this is necessary to enforce the law, or the use is directly related to the purpose for which the agency got the information).
Rule 11: Agencies can only disclose health information in limited circumstances. One example is where another law requires them to disclose the information. Also, an agency can disclose information if it reasonably believes, for example, that
•disclosure is one of the purposes for which the agency got the information
•disclosure is necessary to uphold or enforce the law
•disclosure is necessary for court proceedings
•the person concerned authorized the disclosure
•the information is going to be used in a form that does not identify the person concerned.
Rule 12: Some agencies give people a "unique identifier" instead of using their name. Examples are a driver's licence number, a student ID number, or an IRD number. An agency cannot use the unique identifier given to a person by another agency. People are not required to disclose their unique identifier unless this is one of the purposes for which the unique identifier was set up (or directly related to those purposes).www.privacy.org.nz enquiries@privacy.org.nz 0800 803 909
The Health and Disability Commisioners Act (1996) sets out a code of rights for patients, and obligations and duties which health care providers have to adhere to. All our staff at Stonefields Medical Centre have undergone appropriate training and are fully aware of our responsibilities to our patients with respect to the Code of Rights.In the event that you have not been satisfied with the service received at Stonefields Medical Centre, please mention it to the respective staff member or alternatively contact our Complaints Officer, Dr Mohale Mongalo. You are entitled to enlist the support from a friend, relative or the independent Health and Disability Advocacy Service (ph 0800 11 22 33).We strive to respond to any complaints in a timely manner. In the event that a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached, you can contact the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner. The Disability Commissioner will decide if there has been a breach of your rights as described in the Code.
The ten codes of rights are as follows;
Right 1: the right to be treated with respect, including respect for your culture, values, beliefs and personal privacy.
Right 2: the right to freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment, and exploitation
Right 3: the right to dignity and independence
Right 4: the right to services of an appropriate standard
Right 5: the right to effective communication
Right 6: the right to be fully informed
Right 7: the right to make an informed choice and give informed consent
Right 8: the right to support
Right 9: rights in respect of teaching or research
Right 10: the right to complaint
The ten codes of rights are as follows;
Right 1: the right to be treated with respect, including respect for your culture, values, beliefs and personal privacy.
Right 2: the right to freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment, and exploitation
Right 3: the right to dignity and independence
Right 4: the right to services of an appropriate standard
Right 5: the right to effective communication
Right 6: the right to be fully informed
Right 7: the right to make an informed choice and give informed consent
Right 8: the right to support
Right 9: rights in respect of teaching or research
Right 10: the right to complaint
All incoming results are checked by your doctor. We expect the results of routine blood tests to be back within the week. Special test may take longer and your doctor will inform you of this. We will not routinely contact you if your results are normal.You will be contacted if further action is necessary either by telephone, letter or email.You may request a copy of your results but if you require further discussion or information, you will need to make a doctor's appointment. You can also request a copy of your results to be emailed to you by Labtests. This should be arranged at the time of your visit to Labtests. You can use our email contact to request a copy of your results: admin@stonemed.co.nz
Repeat prescription is at the discretion of your GP and is available only for our enrolled patients. We are only able to provide repeat prescriptions when your GP has adequately assessed your condition, your needs and is, therefore satisfied that the treatment is in your best interest. This also includes checking for side effects, drug interactions, appropriate dosages and ensuring that the treatment is consistent with current best practice guidelines. For these reasons we recommend that repeat prescriptions are issued under the following guidelines:
- You have seen your GP in the last 6 months.Medicines prescribed includes regular, long-term medications only and not antibiotics or sleeping pills.
- If you are requesting a new medication not previously prescribed by your GP, or
- If there had been recent changes in the dosages of the medicines, or following a hospital admission, we would encourage you to see your GP first.
- Please allow 48 hours for a prescription to be generated. Urgent requests require 24 hours preparation time and will incur a higher fee.
Payment is expected at the end of each consultation or upon request of a script/ referral letter.We accept cash, eftpos or payment through internet banking.
Our bank account 12-3110-0089994-00
If paying online, please include your name or patient chart number as a reference.A $5 administration fee applies to any accounts not paid within 7 days. If the account remains overdue after 90 days, a further $30 administration fee will be charged and referral to a debt collection agency will be made.
Our bank account 12-3110-0089994-00
If paying online, please include your name or patient chart number as a reference.A $5 administration fee applies to any accounts not paid within 7 days. If the account remains overdue after 90 days, a further $30 administration fee will be charged and referral to a debt collection agency will be made.