Privacy Policy

Healing Wave Chiropractic is committed to providing quality services to you and this policy outlines our ongoing obligations to you in respect of how we manage your Personal Information.

We have adopted the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act).  The APPs govern the way in which we collect, use, disclose, store, secure and dispose of your Personal Information.

A copy of the Australian Privacy Principles may be obtained from the website of The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.aoic.gov.au.

What is Personal Information and why do we collect it?

Personal Information is information or an opinion that identifies an individual. Examples of Personal Information we collect include: names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, information about your health and healthcare, your healthcare identifier or your “My Health” record (if you have one).

This Personal Information is obtained in many ways including during consultations, via our website (www.healingwave.com.au), correspondence from you, or (with your consent) from other health professionals who may be treating you, by telephone, by email, from cookies and from third parties (for example: your employer if your health issues relate to your work).  We cannot guarantee website links or the privacy policies of authorised third parties. If you want to check their privacy policies, you will need to contact them or look at their websites.

We collect your Personal Information for the primary purpose of providing our services to you and marketing our services.  We may also use your Personal Information for secondary purposes closely related to the primary purpose, in circumstances where you would reasonably expect such use or disclosure.  You may unsubscribe from our mailing/marketing lists at any time by notifying us in writing (which includes email).

When we collect Personal Information we will, where appropriate and where possible, explain to you why we are collecting the information and how we plan to use it.

Sensitive Information

Sensitive information is defined in the Privacy Act to include health information and information or opinion about such things as an individual's racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a political association, religious or philosophical beliefs, membership of a trade union or other professional body, criminal record.

Sensitive information will be used by us only:

·      for the primary purpose for which it was obtained

·      for a secondary purpose that is directly related to the primary purpose

·      with your consent; or

·      where the use is required or authorised by law.

Information we collect through our website and emails

If you use the forms on our website to contact us or to make appointments, we collect the following Personal Information from you when you enter it on the form- your name, email address, phone number and date of birth. We use this information only to schedule your appointment or return your contact request.

If you request information from us (by using the “Let’s Chat” or “Get in Touch” pages on our website, for example), we will collect your contact information so we can send you any information you have asked for. You will also receive practice newsletters, announcements and occasional promotional information via email.  These will be of a general nature and will not disclose any of your Personal Information, including information about your health.  You can choose to opt-out of receiving these emails from us at any time by clicking on the “unsubscribe“ link at the end of our emails and you will no longer receive further emails from us.

Like many other websites, we also automatically collect and log other non-identifying information when you interact with the Healing Wave website. This includes usage data about:

·      what pages of our website you have visited, and when; and

·      whether emails from us were opened or deleted without being opened, and whether the reader clicked on links in the emails.

We do this to measure the performance of our website and email messaging and to monitor and improve these means of communication with our clients and other visitors to our website.

Third Parties

Where reasonable and practicable to do so, we will collect your Personal Information only from you.  However, in some circumstances we may be provided with information by third parties. This is likely to include reports or information from other health professionals (for example: from your GP, X-Rays and radiology practices) as well as from other parties. In such a case we will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are made aware of the information provided to us by the third party.

Disclosure of Personal Information

Your Personal Information may be disclosed in a number of circumstances including the following:

·      to third parties where you consent to the use or disclosure; and

·      where required or authorised by law.

Security of Personal Information

Your Personal Information is stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse and loss and from unauthorized access, modification or disclosure. If you have any concerns about the security of your Personal Information, please contact us to discuss them with us.

When your Personal Information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify your Personal Information. However, most of the Personal Information is or will be stored in client files which will be kept by us for a minimum of 7 years.

Access to your Personal Information

You may access the Personal Information we hold about you and to update and/or correct it, subject to certain exceptions. If you wish to access your Personal Information, please contact us in writing.

Healing Wave Chiropractic will not charge any fee for your access request, but we may charge an administrative fee for providing a copy of your Personal Information.

In order to protect your Personal Information, we may require identification from you before releasing the requested information.

Maintaining the Quality of your Personal Information

It is an important to us that your Personal Information is up to date.  We will take reasonable steps to make sure that your Personal Information is accurate, complete and up-to-date.  If you find that the information we have is not up to date or is inaccurate, please advise us as soon as practicable so we can update our records and ensure we can continue to provide quality services to you.

Policy Updates

This Policy may change from time to time and is available on our website.

Informed Consent References

1. Leboeuf-Yde, C. Hennius, B. Rudberg, E. Leufvenmark, P. Thunman, M. (1997). Side effects of chiropractic treatment: a prospective study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 20(8):511-5.

2. Senstad, O. Leboeuf-Yde, C. Borchgrevink, C.(1997). Frequency and characteristics of side effects of spinal manipulative therapy. Spine. 22(4):435-40.

3. Dvorak, J. (1985). How dangerous is manipulation to the cervical spine? Case report and results of a survey. Manual Medicine. 2:1-4.

4. Haldeman, S. Carey, P. Townsend, M. Papadopoulos, C. (2001). Arterial dissections following cervical manipulation: the chiropractic experience. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 165(7):905-6.

5. Leboeuf-Yde,C. Axen, I. Ahlefeldt, G. Lidefelt, P. Rosenbaum, A. Thurnherr, T. (1999). The types and frequencies of improved nonmusculoskeletal symptoms reported after chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 22(9):559-64.

6. Sarnat, R. Winterstein, J, Cambron, J. (2007). Clinical utilization and cost outcomes from an integrative medicine independent physician association: an additional 3-year update. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 30(4):263-9.

Privacy Policy Complaints and Enquiries

If you have any queries or complaints about our Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

77A Hanbury Street, Mayfield, NSW 2304

info@healingwave.com.au

02 4948 4022