Telehealth & Data Privacy in Healthcare

Health information is about as sensitive as personal information gets, and Australian law treats it that way. Here's exactly how privacy and confidentiality are handled during a 13CURE telehealth consultation.

Encryption & Verification Methods

Every telehealth consultation runs over an encrypted connection, and we verify patients by name, date of birth, and Medicare or DVA details before the appointment starts. This step isn't just administrative box-ticking. It confirms the doctor is speaking with the right patient and pulling up the correct record, in line with RACGP telehealth standards and AHPRA professional obligations.

Patient Consent Requirements

Before information from your consultation goes anywhere else, to your regular GP, say, as part of continuity of care, your consent is required. That holds whether you've had a standard consultation or a bulk billed telehealth appointment. Your billing arrangement doesn't change how we handle your information.

Tips for Safe Online Consults

A few simple habits keep your end of the consultation private too: join from a private space rather than somewhere public, use a secure home or mobile connection instead of open public Wi-Fi, close the link once your appointment finishes. Matters just as much whether you're in a city apartment or on a regional property with a slower connection.

Who Can Access Your Telehealth Consultation Records?

Access is limited to your treating doctor, you, and authorised administrative staff directly involved in your care. Under the Privacy Act 1988, health information is considered sensitive information, meaning it has tighter handling requirements than most personal data. It isn't shared beyond your care team without consent, except in the narrow circumstances the law allows, such as a serious threat to someone's safety.

How Long Is Your Telehealth Data Stored?

Medical records in Australia must be kept for a minimum period set by state and territory health record-keeping laws, and clinics often keep them longer to support ongoing care. Your consultation record stays secure for as long as those obligations require; it's not deleted shortly after your appointment.

What to Do If You Have a Privacy Concern

Got a question or concern about how your information's been handled? Our team can walk you through it directly; reach us via our contact page. If a concern isn't resolved to your satisfaction, you can also raise it with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, the independent body overseeing privacy complaints nationally.

Why Sensitive Information Gets Extra Protection

Health details reveal more about a person than most other personal information, which is why the Privacy Act treats them as a separate, more protected category. A leaked address is one thing; a leaked medical history can affect employment, insurance, and personal relationships. That's why every telehealth consultation is handled under stricter rules, not just as a technicality.

Can You Request a Copy of Your Own Consultation Record?

Yes. Under Australian privacy law, patients generally have the right to access their own health information. If you'd like a copy of your telehealth consultation notes, contact our team, and we'll walk you through the request process.

Privacy Considerations for Consultations Involving Family Members

When a parent books for a child or a carer books on behalf of someone else, the same privacy protections apply to the patient's record, not the person who made the booking. A consultation summary is only shared further with appropriate consent, which for a minor or a person without capacity to consent themselves is typically provided by the parent or authorised carer involved in their care.