Information collection and confidentiality

For the purposes of assessment and/or management and/ or service provision for the disability / illness / injury for which you have been referred to Riverina Occupational Therapy; Riverina Occupational Therapy may need to collect your personal information from, and disclose your personal information to, a number of parties, including:  

• Health practitioners, hospitals, or other health institutions or service providers related to your medical condition/s and services required.  

• A family member in the case of an emergency.  

• Legal guardian or representative  

• Any other entity where there is a legal obligation to do so.  

You have the right to confidentiality, and staff will not disclose your use of the services provided. Exceptions to this are as follows:  

• Prior consent is obtained from the client by the consultant/s to discuss or disclose personal information to specific parties.  

• When an individual’s life or safety is seriously threatened.  

• Disclosure is required by law for legal proceedings with a subpoena.  

If Riverina Occupational Therapy is unable to collect, use and disclose your personal information, they may not be able to provide appropriate support or services, and this may result in the provision of supports or services being restricted or denied. Your personal information is also used for the purpose of providing quality service/s to yourself and related parties involved with your case.  

Voice recording consent

At times therapists will voice record therapy sessions, completed through a program called Everbility. Recorded information is then transcribed into therapy progress notes or reports. Everbility maintains participant data privacy through several key measures: 

• Secure Storage: Participant information is stored on secure computer systems to prevent unauthorised access. 

• Access Control: Access to personal information is restricted to authorised personnel who need the information to perform their duties. 

• Identity Verification: Everbility conducts identity checks to confirm the identity of individuals before sharing any personal information, ensuring that data is not disclosed to unauthorised persons. 

• Data Handling Protocols: Personal information is handled with care and confidentiality and is only used for the purposes for which it was collected. 

• Compliance with Legal Obligations: Everbility adheres to the Privacy Act and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act, ensuring that all data handling practices comply with federal laws. Everbility is APP and HIPAA compliant. 

• Data Destruction: When personal information is no longer required, it is destroyed securely or archived in accordance with legal obligations. 

Image consent

At Riverina Occupational Therapy we often request to use images, video footage and information from our participants with their consent. The images and footage are included in reports to support recommendations, and/or contribute to educational material for other therapists.