Your rights

Healthelink knows that the privacy of your health information is important, and that for some individuals the data collected is more sensitive than for others. We will protect the privacy of your Healthelink Electronic Health Record by:

• Only giving access to the Healthelink system to registered users.
• Collecting and storing your information securely.
• Making sure that the health professionals who access your Healthelink record understand their privacy obligations.
• Allowing associates to access records they are authorised to see through a secure log in process and giving them the ability to add information to those records.
• Allowing associates to see who has viewed your record and what information they looked at.
• Providing a complaint process for dealing with complaints in a timely manner.

Apart from this specific Healthelink privacy policy:

• All participating healthcare organisations and Healthelink staff are bound by law and professional ethics to ensure the privacy and security of your information.
• Appropriate systems and policies are in place to protect your information from loss, unauthorised access and misuse.
• Healthelink is required by law to retain health records for certain periods of time.
• Security of information is maintained in accordance with national and international security standards and the Health Records & Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIP Act).

Healthelink privacy policy does not permit the use or disclosure of personal health information for any commercial purpose or for disclosure to insurance companies, employers or any other group seeking to use a Healthelink record for financial gain.

The Health Records and Information Privacy Regulation 2006  (79K) under the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 applies to Healthelink. There is also an amendment to this regulation - Health Records and Information Privacy Amendment Regulation 2007  (65K).

Healthelink is an electronic health record system owned and operated by the Health Administration Corporation which is the legal entity which collects and holds Healthelink information. All Healthelink Electronic Health Records will remain the property of the Health Administration Corporation at all times.

• Download a full copy of the Healthelink Electronic Health Record Privacy Statement  (165K)
• Download a full copy of the Privacy Policy for NSW Health Electronic Health Record  (317K)
  

You don't have to take part in the Healthelink pilot if you don't want to. You may opt-out at any time - the easiest way to do this is by contacting us.