ACOE_Self-Study

Standard VIII – Clinic Management and Patient Care Policies

8.1 The program must have or be assured the use of a clinical patient care program sufficient to fulfill its mission, goals and objectives. The University Eye C enter (UEC), the College’s owned and operated Article 28 patient care program, consists of its primary location on the College campus. 10 In addition, the College has contractual arrangements with community organizations (Satellite Clinics) including hospital clinics and diagnostic and treatment centers. 11 Appendix VIII-1 lists the current satellite clinics. The on-campus clinic provides adult and pediatric primary eye care services (including contact lens services and ophthalmic dispensing) as well as more specialized care in the areas of ocular disease, vision therapy, advanced contact lenses, low vision, head trauma, adults with disabilities, children with special needs, infant vision, and learning disabilities. The UEC is administratively structured into three major services: Primary Care, Advanced Care and Vision Rehabilitation. Specialized services are organized under each of these major service areas as indicated in Appendix VIII-2 . The UEC is one of the busiest optometric clinics in the country. Its location in the heart of the nation’s most densely populated metropolis affords extraordinary access to an exceedingly clinically diverse and challenging patient base. The central clinic at 33 West 42 nd Street has about 71,000 patient visits per year while the satellite clinics see about 45,000 patient visits for a total of about 115,000 patient visits per year (data for FY 2017-2018). The 42 nd Street clinical facility consists of four clinical floors containing approximately 100 examination rooms. Floor plans are given in Appendix VIII-3a . In addition, there is one floor that is primarily dedicated to supporting the clinical floors with staff in a variety of functions including clinical administration, medical records, call center, referral service, billing, community outreach and an ophthalmic laboratory. The floor plan is in Appendix VIII-3b . The UEC Referral Service provides advanced and specialized services including diagnostic imaging and testing to the patients of referring doctors in our community. In FY 2014-2015, FY 2015-2016, FY 2016-17 and FY 2017-18 the number of patient visits as a result of referrals was 11,731, 12,285 13,290 and 14,238, respectively. The College is cognizant of its responsibility to provide services to less fortunate members of the community. Fee reduction applications are readily available throughout the clinical floors to assist patients. Appendix VIII-4 summarizes such services provided by the UEC in 2017-18.

10 The University Eye Center is a Diagnostic and Treatment Center licensed by the New York State Department of Health, an agency of the State of New York. As such, it is required to comply with the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR). As a Diagnostic and Treatment Center, the University Eye Center must comply with Article 28 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, Title 10. 11 Certain of the satellite clinics may serve as externship sites. Please see Standard 2.10.

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