There are various laws that permit the processing of your personal information such as the National Health Act, the Health Professions Act and POPIA. We will only process, which includes collect, use, store or disclose, your personal information in accordance with the law or otherwise with your consent and will always strive to keep your information confidential, whether you supply it directly to us or whether it is collected lawfully from other sources.

We generally collect and process the following personal information about patients and retain it as part of our records:

• Name, identity number, date of birth, age, contact details, address and gender;
• Name and contact details of next-of-kin;
• Health status and disability;
• Funder (e.g. medical scheme) information;
• Physiotherapy services provided;
• Reports from special investigations such as radiology reports and pathology results;
• Account and payment details; and
• Patient documentation, including consent forms, invoices, photos, videos and correspondence.

When you become a patient of the practice, we will use your personal information as follows: 

• to provide you with appropriate care;
• to communicate with you in respect of your care, including reminding you of appointments and collecting payments for services rendered;
• for administrative purposes, including preparing invoices and collecting payment for services rendered;
• to refer you to other practitioners;
• to report to referring practitioners;
• for participation in clinical trials;
• record-keeping;
• for historical, statistical and research purposes;
• as proof;
• for enforcement of the practice’s rights;
• for any other lawful purpose related to the activities of a private physiotherapy practice; and/or

as may be requested or authorised by you.

We do not use your personal information for commercial purposes.

Depending on the circumstances, your personal information will be disclosed to the following persons and entities: 

• relevant treating practitioners to ensure appropriate care;
• next-of-kin (if it is necessary in the circumstances);
• your funder (such as your medical scheme upon its request, for example, to allocate benefits);
• your insurance company (upon your request);
• bodies performing peer review of our practitioners / clinical practice audits;
• our professional advisers as well as employees and service providers who assist us to provide the services and who perform functions related to the administration of the practice, subject to confidentiality agreements;
• debt collectors and credit bureaus, if your accounts are outstanding;
• public and private bodies (such as regulators), as may be required in terms of the law;
• law enforcement structures, including courts and tribunals;
• as required or permitted by law, including to comply with any legal obligation or to protect the rights, property or safety of our business, employees, patients, the public or others; and
• a purchaser of the practice, if applicable.