Privacy Policy

THE PRIVACY POLICY FOR SMILE ARTISTRY

Smile Artistry’s Privacy Policy sets down to follow the Ten National Privacy Principles under the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000.

Smile Artistry sets out to be clear in our policy for management of personal information and promote openness between Smile Artistry and our Patients.

Smile Artistry respects the right of an individual to have their privacy protected.

Smile Artistry seeks to gain information from our new patients in helping us to understand your personal, medical and dental needs. The information seeked during our questionnaire and consultation appointments forms a confidential and private document between yourself and Smile Artistry’s Dentists and/or Hygienists. The information contained within this document is treated as privileged medical information and is used, stored and destroyed in accordance with this policy. In filling out the dental and medical history forms you are consenting for Smile Artistry to collect health information about yourself for the means of providing personalised dental care.

Smile Artistry’s Privacy Policy is based around the National Privacy Principles relevant to Private Dental Practice.

Collected Health Information relating to the Individual’s health or disability, expressed wishes regarding future health services and about health services provided, or to be provided, is stored onsite at Smile Artistry is either a digital form or Paper Based form in a secure chart. Patient Records are stored onsite and do not leave the premises at Level One 31 Sherwood Road unless the records have been de-identified.

Health Information, and in particular Sensitive Health Information is collected with the consent of the individual seeking treatment. Smile Artistry seeks to collect information directly from the individual where this is reasonable and practical. Smile Artistry seeks to collect only information necessary for the performance of providing personalised dental care. Smile Artistry only uses or discloses personal information for the primary purpose of providing personalised dental care.

Only relevant Staff to the provision of personalised dental care has access to a Patient’s Collected Health Information. Because Smile Artistry is a multi-disciplined team of Dentists, our Dentists work together and share necessary information, in accordance with this policy, to deliver personalised dental care.

Smile Artistry by law, allows Patients access to their Collected Health information. It is recommended that if a patient wishes to discuss their records, they book an appointment with a Dentist, so that the Dentist can discuss and explain the meaning of their records. If a patient wishes to gain a copy of their records, then they can make this request through Smile Artistry's Reception.  Smile Artistry does require a signed form which correllates with your Personal Dental Records before the request for your Personal Dental Records is started.  This is to protect the confidentiality and security of your Personal Dental Records.  The form to directly request your Dental Records can be downloaded here.  Smile Artistry will give a response within 14 days to this request advising whether any records are to be withheld, the reason the records are to be withheld and any costs to be paid before the records will be printed. So that Smile Artistry can provide accurate records, costs will be incurred at the cost of $2 per page to cover the administration and materials involved in the colation of this information. Should larger items require posting, there may be a postage charge incurred if not collected in person.  Payment of this fee will be required before the information will be printed.  Postage or advice for collection will be completed within seven (7) days of payment.

Due to the nature of collected photographic records, and the sensitive series of angles, difficulties in printing accurate records, and our customised equipment used, photographic records remain the property of Smile Artistry Pty Ltd and will not be released. Should other information be withheld, Smile Artistry will give the reasons behind this decision.

There are two ways to request your dental records held by Smile Artistry Pty Ltd:

1. Your New Dentist faxes or mails an ADA-Approved Request of Dental Records Form directly to Smile Artistry. where your Personal Dental Records will be transfer to your New Dentist in accordance with the above paragraph.
2. Personal Request for Dental Records can be made by filling out our form available by request from Smile Artistry Reception Staff, or download here.  The process of requesting your Personal Dental Records will be in accordance with the above paragraph.

To ensure the safe transfer of your records we do prefer to transfer your records directly to your New Dentist.  So that Smile Artistry can ensure that the Transfer of Records are accurate and helpful to the new Dental Provider, 14 days should be allowed prior to postage, if the request is directly from you New Dentist.

Smile Artistry seeks to ensure that the records that are collected, used or disclosed are accurate, complete, and up-to-date.

Smile Artistry protects the health information it holds from misuse and loss, as well as un-authorised access, modification or disclosure. To protect of the Smile Artistry network, or computer system is contained within an intra-net, not accessible to outside networks or the internet. Information for patients where no treatment has been performed for greater than ten (10) years is destroyed by a secure external document destroying company.

This privacy policy is available from our reception staff at any time or online at www.smileartistry.com.au If this policy remains unclear, it is recommended to discuss its contents with a Dentist within the practice.

Copyright Smile Artistry 2007