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Policies and Procedures

Privacy

  • Purpose

    To provide advice to The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) how RCH protects the privacy of patient and staff personal information.

    Scope

    All RCH staff

    Definition of terms

    Personal Information is factual data or opinion about an individual who may be identified, directly or indirectly, by the material.  It can be in any medium including electronic or paper records, video or audio recordings, clinical photography, x-rays, or labels on pathology samples.

    Policy

    From 8th August 2020, a shared Electronic Medical Record (EMR) between RCH, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Royal Women’s Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (the Parkville Health Services) will allow the Parkville Health Services to access a patient’s record if that patient has been treated at any of the Parkville Health Services. Staff at each of the Parkville Health Services are required to adhere to their health service’s policies and /procedures regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of patient information, including this policy. Staff must only access records contained in the EMR as required as part of their role (e.g. if involved in or supporting care and treatment of that patient). Access to the EMR is audited regularly to monitor staff compliance. The records may not be retained locally or deleted. They may not be printed, disclosed, used, or amended for reasons other than patient care and treatment and only in accordance with RCH policies and procedures.

    In accordance with legislation and with procedures, RCH is committed to ensure the privacy of personal information and its appropriate usage.

    RCH is committed to;

    1. Meeting all legislative requirements
    2. Ensuring the privacy of patients and staff information
    3. Ensuring personal information is kept in a safe and secure environment
    4. Ensuring access to personal information is appropriately monitored
    5. Ensuring that information collected is accurate, objective and factual
    6. Informing staff about the correct management of person information and ensuring its privacy
    7. Informing staff, patients and their families about their rights to access personal information

    Responsibility

    Chief Financial Officer. 

    Related procedures

    Related policies 

    Related legislation

    Click here to access copies of the following legislation on the Victorian Government web-site.

    • Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005
    • Children and Young Person's Act 1989
    • Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic)  
    • Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic)
    • Freedom of Information Regulations 1998 (Vic)
    • Health Records Act 2001 (Vic)
    • Health Services Act 1988 (Vic)
    • Mental Health Act 2014
    • Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic)
    • Public Records Act 1973

    Vision

    This policy and associated procedures are integral to the RCH achieving its vision of ‘Great Care Everywhere."

    Values

    • Unity
      We work as a team and in partnership with our communities.
    • Respect
      We respect the rights of all and treat people the way we would like them to treat us.
    • Integrity
      We believe that how we work is as important as the work we do.
    • Excellence
      We are committed to achieving our goals and improving outcomes.