How we collect, use, and protect your personal health information in accordance with Australian privacy laws
AltMed Doctors (ABN: [To be inserted]) ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal health information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our alternative medicine documentation platform and telehealth services.
This policy complies with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) requirements, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) guidelines for complementary medicine practitioners, and the Spam Act 2003 (Cth).
We collect and store the following health-related information:
Medical history, symptoms, and health concerns
Current medications, supplements, and treatments
Allergies and adverse reactions
Lifestyle factors affecting health (diet, exercise, stress levels)
Treatment preferences and goals
Consultation notes and treatment plans
Full name, date of birth, and contact details
Email address and mobile phone number
Medicare number and healthcare identifiers
Private health insurance details
Emergency contact information
Credit card information (processed securely through Stripe)
Device information and IP addresses
Platform usage patterns and preferences
Communication logs and timestamps
We use your personal health information for the following primary purposes:
Providing alternative medicine consultations and creating personalized treatment plans
Monitoring treatment progress and coordinating care with other practitioners
Managing appointments and scheduling
Processing payments through Stripe
Sending appointment reminders via SMS and email
Maintaining secure health records
By using our services, creating an account, or booking an appointment, you expressly consent to receive SMS text messages and email communications from AltMed Doctors for the following purposes:
Healthcare Communications:
Appointment confirmations and reminders
Treatment updates and follow-up instructions
Prescription notifications and refill reminders
Important health and safety information
TGA application status updates
Service Communications:
Account verification and security notifications
Payment confirmations and billing information
Platform updates and service announcements
Customer support responses
You can opt-out of non-essential communications at any time by replying "STOP" to SMS messages or clicking "Unsubscribe" in emails
Essential healthcare communications (appointment reminders, treatment updates) cannot be disabled as they are necessary for your care
You can update your communication preferences in your account settings
Contact us at info@altmeddoc.com.au to modify your communication preferences
Spam Act 2003 Compliance: We comply with the Australian Spam Act 2003 by ensuring all commercial electronic messages have your consent, clearly identify the sender (AltMed Doctors), and provide easy unsubscribe options. Our healthcare communications are exempt from the Spam Act as they are factual information directly related to your health services.
We may share your information with the following parties under specific circumstances:
Healthcare Providers: With your consent, we share relevant health information with your GP, specialists, or other healthcare practitioners involved in your care to ensure coordinated treatment.
Service Providers: We work with trusted third-party providers including Stripe for payment processing, SMS notification services, email service providers, cloud storage providers, and IT support. All providers are bound by strict confidentiality agreements and comply with Australian privacy laws.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or to protect public health and safety, including reporting to TGA for adverse events related to therapeutic goods.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal health information to third parties for marketing or commercial purposes.
We use Stripe, a PCI DSS Level 1 compliant payment processor, to handle all credit card transactions:
Your credit card information is never stored on our servers
All payment data is encrypted and processed through Stripe's secure infrastructure
We only receive confirmation of successful payments, not your card details
Stripe complies with the highest industry security standards
We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your health information:
End-to-end encryption for all data transmission and storage
Multi-factor authentication and role-based access permissions
24/7 security monitoring and regular vulnerability assessments
We will contact you via phone within 72 hours if your data is compromised
Under Australian privacy law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Access Your Records: Request copies of your health records and personal information we hold
Correct Information: Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your information for specific purposes
We retain your health information in accordance with Australian healthcare record-keeping requirements:
Adult patients: 7 years from last consultation
Pediatric patients: Until age 25 or 7 years from last consultation, whichever is longer
Billing records: 7 years for tax and audit purposes
Your health information is stored and processed within Australia using Australian-based cloud infrastructure. Payment processing through Stripe and SMS/email services may involve international data transfers, which are conducted with appropriate safeguards and comply with Australian privacy laws.
Privacy Officer
Email: info@altmeddoc.com.au
Subject Line: Privacy Inquiry - [Your Name]
Response Time: We respond to privacy inquiries within 30 days
If you're not satisfied with our response, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or call 1300 363 992.
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes by email and SMS (if you have provided consent) and posting the updated policy on our website. Your continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Last updated: July 11, 2025