Office of the Health Services Commissioner Annual Report 2008

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Vision Australia Launch A campaign to inform Victorians with print disabilities of their Privacy rights regarding their personal and health information was launched on Thursday 17 April, with Graeme Innes, Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner as guest speaker. The communications campaign is a joint initiative of Privacy Victoria and the OHSC working with Vision Australia. Privacy Victoria and the OHSC are keen to ensure that Victorians with a print disability (and their families, friends and colleagues) are aware of their privacy rights and the remedies available if those privacy rights are breached. Gerard Menses, Vision Australia CEO, Beth Wilson, Health Services Commissioner, Graeme Innes, Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner, and Helen Versey, Privacy Commissioner at the campaign launch. Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities The HSC is a statutory partner with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission in promoting and considering the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 in assessing complaints it receives. The Charter creates a legal obligation on Public Authorities to "act in a way that is compatible with human rights and take human rights into account when making decisions." Human rights belong to all Victorians and the OHSC is aware of the Charter when considering complaints against any health service provider who has, among other things, failed to provide satisfactory care or denied a patient their respect, dignity or privacy. All OHSC employees have completed an e-learning program which was developed to assist them in meeting their obligations under the Charter, Code of Conduct and Public Sector Values. They are aware they should actively: • encourage actions which are compatible with the Charter • support others to act compatibly with the Charter • respect and actively promote the Charter to clients, external service providers • and other staff Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities (CALD) Since the introduction of the HRA in 2002 the OHSC has made a concerted effort to increase the awareness of the office to Victoria’s diverse community. In September 2007 the OHSC had a stand at the Moon Lantern Festival which falls on the 15th day of the eighth Chinese Lunar Calendar. The Asian Moon Lantern festival is the most important date in the second half of the Lunar year and has been celebrated for 5000 years. It draws in audiences from all Asian backgrounds and is celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese, Thais, Laotians, Cambodians, Koreans, Japanese, Indonesians, Malaysians and Singaporeans. People at the 2007 Moon Lantern Festival obtaining information from the OHSC stand. 36 Office of the Health Services Commissioner | Annual Report 2008
Human Research Ethics Committees (HREC) The HSC developed statutory guidelines which relate to the collection, use and disclosure of health information for research purposes. The Guidelines allow an organisation to collect, use or disclose health information in the circumstances contemplated in HPPs 1.1(e) & 2.2(g) with the approval of a properly constituted HREC. The HREC which should have regard to the matters listed within the guidelines. The task for the HREC is to decide whether the public interest in the research substantially outweighs the public interest in the protection of privacy, in relation to the Royal Melbourne Show Once again the OHSC joined resources with Privacy Victoria in 2007 to provide our message to some of the 500,000 visitors who visit the show each year. We did this by the distribution of a souvenir Chinese Horoscope and ‘Privacy’ handprints where children placed there unique handprint on a card. Both of these popular handouts had our contact details on them. Without the support and help of Darryl Rogan, Manager, Community Liaison from Information Victoria this would not have been possible. use of information or recruitment to a research project. If the HREC, having considered all the matters as required by the guidelines considers that such a test has been met, then the researchers have complied with the legal requirements of the Act. The guidelines require HREC to report on the use of the HSC guidelines for the purposes of HPP 1.1(e)(iii) & 2.2(g)(iii) of the HRA. For the reporting year 47 out of a possible 61 HREC reported to us that they utilised the guidelines. 47 Number of HREC Reports Returned to HSC 61 Number of HREC Committees Figure 20 HREC returns Photos from the 2007 Royal Melbourne Show showing the OHSC, Privacy Victoria floor tile and the Chinese Calligrapher completing a horoscope for one of the many children who visited our stand. InfoMed As part of our commitment to inform Victorians of the role of the OHSC we utilise the services of InfoMed which displays our brochure in over 450 medical centres throughout Victoria. This has resulted in over 7000 of our brochures being taken by patients while they were waiting to see their doctor. Month Year Uptake Number of patients Number of doctors July 2007 671 966,000 2112 August 2007 581 963,000 2101 September 2007 726 967,000 2110 October 2007 606 997,000 2182 November 2007 673 992,000 2170 December 2007 506 1,011,000 2208 January 2008 447 1,009,000 2205 February 2008 485 1,009,000 2205 March 2008 687 1,009,000 2202 April 2008 529 1,004,000 2198 May 2008 563 1,004,000 2194 June 2008 573 996,000 2178 Total 7047 Table 27 InfoMed Human Resources This financial year saw us farewell Mark McPherson, Senior Conciliator, who was successful in obtaining a position at the Medical Practitioners Board and Dr Vinay Rane, Conciliator whose fixed term contract expired. We express our appreciation to both Mark and Vinay for their contribution. We welcomed back Dr Jacqueline Smith as a part time Senior Medical Adviser; Jacqui had previously worked with us on placement during her sabbatical leave. Another former staff member Kay Rouse commenced work with us working one day per week on reception and Jacqui Hoepener the Commissioner’s Executive Assistant was successful in obtaining the position on an ongoing role after being employed from an agency. Bonnie Owusu-Afriyie commenced as a new member of the Conciliation team after working with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Office of the Health Services Commissioner | Annual Report 2008 37
Page 1 and 2: HERE FOR ALL VICTORIANS Office of t
Page 3 and 4: Contents Glossary of Abbreviations
Page 5 and 6: Beth Wilson Victoria’s Health Ser
Page 7 and 8: Health Services Review Council Pres
Page 9 and 10: Membership Council members are repr
Page 11 and 12: Statutory Functions Office of the H
Page 13 and 14: Public Interest Issues Cancer Treat
Page 15 and 16: Throughout this Report anecdotal in
Page 17 and 18: How Complaints Are Managed The enqu
Page 19 and 20: Assessment Report An Assessment off
Page 21 and 22: Lynn Buchanan Senior Conciliator HS
Page 23 and 24: Year Board notifications discussed
Page 25 and 26: Reasons For Complaints Complaints r
Page 27 and 28: Communication The sub-issues where
Page 29 and 30: Categories of Accepted Complaints A
Page 31 and 32: Dentists Most complaints made about
Page 33 and 34: Hospital Complaints Data Complaints
Page 35 and 36: 2006-2007 2007-2008 Admissions 236
Page 37: Manager, Executive Services Michael
Page 41 and 42: Merit and Equity Employment The OHS
Page 43 and 44: Providers Last year’s report indi
Page 45 and 46: Corporate Services Joe Barczak Info
Page 47 and 48: Appendix 1 Providers by Type and Me
Page 49 and 50: Appendix 3: HCIP Service provided a
Page 52: Office of the Health Services Commi

Office of the Health Services Commissioner Annual Report 2008

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