Privacy Policy

Thrive Sports & Exercise Medicine ("we," "our," "us") values your privacy and is committed to safeguarding your personal and health information in line with the Health Information Privacy Code 2020 (HIPC) and the Privacy Act 2020. This policy explains how we collect, store, use, and protect your information as part of our medical practice.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal and health information to provide high-quality medical care. This includes:

  • Personal Details: Name, address, date of birth, and contact information.

  • Health Records: Medical history, current conditions, treatments, test results, and medications.

  • Appointment and Billing Information: Details related to appointments, payments, and invoices.

  • Communications: Correspondence via phone, email, or other digital platforms.

2. Why We Collect Your Information

Your information is collected and used to:

  • Deliver tailored medical advice, treatments, and follow-up care.

  • Communicate with you about appointments, test results, and treatment plans.

  • Collaborate with other healthcare providers when necessary (e.g. GPs, physiotherapists, specialists).

  • Fulfil legal and professional obligations, including documentation and reporting requirements.

3. How We Protect Your Information

We implement robust measures to ensure your data is secure:

  • Secure digital storage with encryption and regular backups.

  • Restricted access to patient files, limited to authorised staff.

  • Secure disposal of physical records when no longer required.

  • Regular staff training on privacy and confidentiality standards.

4. Sharing Your Information

We may share your information with:

  • Other healthcare professionals involved in your care, with your consent.

  • Laboratories and diagnostic services for testing purposes.

  • Regulatory or legal entities, as required by law.

We will not share your information with third parties for non-healthcare purposes without your explicit consent.

5. Your Rights

Under the HIPC 2020, you have the right to:

  • Access Your Records: You can request a copy of your health information at any time.

  • Correct Your Records: If you believe information is inaccurate or incomplete, you can ask for corrections.

  • Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent for certain uses of your information.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details below.

6. Retention and Disposal

We retain health records in compliance with New Zealand laws and professional guidelines. Once records are no longer required, they are securely destroyed to protect your privacy.

7. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information or the care you have received, we encourage you to raise them with us directly so that we can address your concerns promptly.

To make a complaint:

  • Contact Us Directly: Email or write to us using the contact details provided below, outlining your concern clearly.

  • Response Timeline: We aim to acknowledge complaints within five working days and provide a full response within 20 working days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may escalate your complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner or the Health and Disability Commissioner.

We value your feedback and are committed to resolving complaints in a fair and timely manner.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as needed to reflect changes in legal or operational requirements.

Contact Us

For any questions or concerns about this policy or your personal information, please contact us at:

Thrive Sports & Exercise Medicine
Email: louisa@thrivesportsmed.nz

We are here to support your privacy and ensure you feel confident about how your information is managed.