Privacy and managing health information in general practice

Privacy and information security

Healthcare identifiers

  1. References

Last revised: 24 May 2023

Healthcare identifiers

The use of healthcare identifiers instead of names is useful to protect privacy. However, the adopted identifier system used by your practice must not include any prohibited details. In addition, the identification number should not reveal any health information about the patient.
 

Healthcare identifiers

  • Healthcare identifiers generated by your practice’s desktop system should not include any information from:
    • the patient’s name
    • the patient’s date of birth
    • the patient’s address
    • the patient’s telephone number
    • the patient’s Medicare number
    • any identifier assigned by a government agency
    • any other information that could identify the person.
  • Your practice must not use or disclose a patient’s Medicare number, their individual identifier assigned by or on behalf of a government agency, unless:
    • required to fulfil their obligations to that agency
    • to lessen or prevent a serious threat to life, health or safety or public health and safety
    • required or authorised by law, or for certain law-enforcement purposes.

 
  1. [Accessed 7 November 2022].
  2. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  3. [Accessed 7 November 2022].
  4. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  5. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  6. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  7. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  8. [Accessed 8 November 2022].
  9. [date unknown] [Accessed 8 November 2022].
  10. [date unknown] [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  11. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
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