Disclosure Statement
This Disclosure Statement provides important information regarding privacy, clinical documentation, professional interests, and practice policies relevant to your consultation with Ryan Gao.
Professional Disclosure
Ryan is committed to providing transparent, ethical, and patient-focused orthopaedic care.
Ryan may hold professional or financial interests in healthcare-related organisations involved in patient care services, including surgical facilities, medical technology companies, or associated healthcare services. Current ownerships includes North Shore Surgical Centre (NSSC) and HULC (Hand and Upper Limb Centre). Any such relationships are managed in accordance with professional and ethical obligations, with patient care remaining the primary priority at all times.
Patients are welcome to ask questions regarding any aspect of their care, treatment recommendations, or associated healthcare providers.
Clinical Documentation & AI-Assisted Note Taking
Mr Gao may use secure clinical documentation tools, including AI-assisted software such as Heidi, to assist with consultation note-taking and clinical documentation.
These systems are designed to improve documentation accuracy and allow greater focus on patient interaction during consultations. Information processed through these systems is encrypted and managed in accordance with New Zealand privacy and health information standards.
You may decline the use of AI-assisted documentation tools at any time without affecting the quality of care you receive.
Privacy Statement
This practice is committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Privacy Act 2020 and Health Information Privacy Code 2020.
We may collect personal and health information including:
Name and contact details
Date of birth
Referral information
Consultation notes
Imaging and test results
Clinical correspondence
This information is collected to:
Provide healthcare services
Coordinate care with other healthcare providers
Manage appointments and billing
Meet legal and professional obligations
Your information may be shared with healthcare providers involved in your care, including general practitioners, radiology providers, laboratories, hospitals, insurers, ACC, or other relevant healthcare organisations where appropriate or legally required.
Information is securely stored and access is restricted to authorised staff and healthcare professionals involved in your care.
You may request access to or correction of your personal health information at any time.
Communication & Electronic Correspondence
While reasonable steps are taken to protect electronic communications, email and online submissions may not always be fully secure.
By contacting this practice electronically, you acknowledge and accept the potential risks associated with electronic communication.
Please avoid sending urgent or emergency medical concerns via website forms or email.
Cancellation Policy
axis clinic bookings
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please notify the clinic as early as possible.
If less than 4 hours’ notice is provided prior to your scheduled appointment, or you do not attend your appointment, a missed appointment fee may apply.
Outstanding missed appointment fees may result in further bookings being declined until payment has been made.
Exceptions may be considered at the discretion of the Practice Manager.
Website & General Information Disclaimer
Information provided on this website is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered personal medical advice.
Medical recommendations, diagnoses, and treatment decisions can only be provided following an appropriate clinical consultation and assessment.
If you have urgent medical concerns, please contact your general practitioner, emergency services, or nearest hospital.
Acknowledgement
By proceeding with a consultation request, appointment booking, or submitting information through this website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Disclosure Statement.