Privacy of your medical records

Your medical history, treatment and any information provided to the hospital are treated with the utmost confidentially.

We cannot use or pass on your information about you to anyone unless you agree, or unless it is required by law.

Read the How The Royal Melbourne Hospital is Protecting your Privacy brochure which explains in more detail what happens to your personal information.

We respect your right to refuse your information being passed on. If this is your wish, please ask staff for the Refusal of Consent to Disclosure and Release of Information form and complete it as soon as possible. This form should also be completed if you do not wish to be contacted in relation to fundraising or other hospital activities.

You may ask to see the information we hold about you. You may request to view, have photocopies taken or to request that any information be changed, by contacting our FOI Officer.

Information collected by The Royal Melbourne Hospital

When you become a patient of The Royal Melbourne Hospital, a medical record is created. This includes information such as your name, address and contact details, as well as information about your health problems and the treatment you received. Every time you attend or have contact with The Royal Melbourne Hospital, new information is added to your record.

We collect and maintain personal and medical information in order to provide you with appropriate care and treatment. The information we collect during your visits is stored securely in an electronic medical record (EMR) system.

This system is shared by The RMH, Royal Children’s Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and The Royal Women’s Hospital (The Parkville Precinct). The EMR can be accessed by staff from all of these health services but only when they are directly involved with your care or treatment.

Read more about the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system.

In addition to complying with all relevant privacy and confidentiality legislation, The Royal Melbourne Hospital has strict policies and protocols with respect to the collection, use, disclosure and storage of patient information.

All paper and electronic systems across the Parkville Precinct are managed and maintained appropriately. There are strict privacy laws, policies and procedures that are in place to govern the collection, use, release and disposal of your information. Staff access to these systems is audited regularly by each health service to monitor compliance.

Refusing disclosure of information

The Royal Melbourne Hospital may disclose your information to other service providers outside The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Melbourne Health, including your own doctor and other health care and community support providers, if this is necessary for your further treatment (eg a discharge summary is usually sent to your GP). You have the right to refuse your information being disclosed to service providers outside Melbourne Health, which you can exercise by completing a Refusal of Consent to Disclosure and Use of Information form.

Disclosing information without consent

There may be occasions where The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Melbourne Health may be obliged by, or authorised under, law to disclose patient information, regardless of the patient's consent. Examples of this include:

• Presentation of your medical record to a court when subpoenaed (in the case of legal action)

• Reporting to appropriate Government Authorities (such as registration of births, deaths, diseases and treatments)
• Reporting of information about care provided required by the Department of Human Services
• Reporting of information for quality and safety purposes
• Disclosures in accordance with the provisions of the Health Services Act and the Mental Health Act.

Who might contact patients after treatment?

• A member of the health care team for follow up, including evaluation
• A Melbourne Health researcher, to invite you to participate in an important research project
• A member of our fundraising department may send you information or contact you with a request for financial support. If you do not wish for this to happen, please contact the Royal Melbourne Hospital Foundation