ACOE_Self-Study

Students at SUNY College of Optometry have consistently performed well on Parts II (Patient Assessment and Management or PAM) and III (Clinical Skills) of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO). Results on the NBEO are discussed in more detail under Standard I-3. 2.7.1 Externship rotations complement, but do not substitute for, the foundational clinical experiences that must occur at sites described by Standard 8.1.1. The foundational clinical experience is provided during third-year and fourth-year rotations through the on-campus UEC. The UEC, which is staffed by faculty members employed by the SUNY College of Optometry, is a comprehensive eye-care facility (New York Article 28 facility) located in the heart of midtown Manhattan between Rockefeller Center and Times Square. In 2017-18 it employed about 64 optometrists and 13 ophthalmologists along with one nurse, social worker and learning specialist each. In recent years, the annual number of patient visits has averaged about 70,000. More details regarding the UEC can be found under Standard 8. The three external fourth-year external rotations are selected to assure that core competencies are met in the following areas: Refractive Error Evaluation and Management; Sensorimotor and Perceptual Dysfunction; Ocular Disease and Trauma; Interprofessional Collaborative Practice. Externship rotations are discussed under Standard 2.10. 2.8 The quantity, quality and variety of experiences in the supervised care of patients is sufficient to develop clinical competency to independently practice contemporary optometry. At the time of graduation, the average student in the Class of 2018 had seen about 1,691 patients (on average, 24 in the second year, 172 in third year, 230 during fourth-year internal rotation and 1,265 during fourth-year external rotations). 6 For the Class of 2017, the average student saw about 1,643 patients (23 in the second year, 159 in third year, 216 during fourth-year internal rotation and 1,245 during fourth-year external rotations), and for the Class of 2016 the average student saw 1,616 patients (18 in the second year, 187 in third year, 220 during fourth-year internal rotation and 1,191 during fourth-year external rotations). For third-year students, about 63% of the patient encounters involve one student provider, and for fourth-year students about 88% of the encounters involve one student. These data are summarized in the following chart:

Average Number of Patients Seen

2 nd Yr Internal/Screenings

3 rd Yr Internal

4 th Yr Internal

4 th Yr Externships 7

Total

Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2016

24 23 18

172 159 187

230 216 220

1,265 1,245 1,191

1,691 1,643 1,616

6 We have recently started collecting data on first-year student-patient encounters. 7 Four of the fourth-year externship rotation sites (advanced care, contact lenses, pediatrics and visual rehabilitation and clinical research) are on-campus clinics.

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