Email Policy

Staff are able to electronically communicate with patients if the patient has provided their email address and consented to receiving communication via email or text messages. Patients acknowledge that the email is not encrypted by signing the consent to electronic communication form.
Patients are able to obtain advice or information related to their care or appointment reminders by electronic means, where the doctor determines that a face-to-face consultation is unnecessary. Electronic communication includes: fax, email and SMS only.
Practice staff and doctors determine how they communicate electronically with patients, both receiving and sending messages. All significant electronic contact with patients is recorded in the patient health records.
Practice staff and Doctors emails copies of medical certificates, referrals, pathology or radiology requests to patients as per the patients request.
Staff, Doctors and Patients using SMS, email or other forms of electronic messaging should be aware that it is not possible to guarantee that electronic communications will be private.

When an email message is sent or received via the Practice gmail account, in the course of a person’s duties, that message is a business communication and therefore constitutes as an official record.