Student Handbook

Clinical Programs and Policies

University Eye Center and Satellite Clinics The University Eye Center, the patient care facility of the SUNY College of Optometry has been a vital resource to the New York City region for almost six decades, providing cutting-edge eye and vision care to an expanding patient base within our community and beyond. Your clinic responsibilities begin when you arrive at the College. It is the policy of SUNY Optometry that all patients are always treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Listed below are excerpts of several key policies. Students, faculty and staff are required to comply with all portions of the entire University Eye Center Policy and Procedure Manual, which is online on Sharepoint. During third-year student orientation, the Clinic Chiefs will present detailed information specific to their individual Services. Their PowerPoint presentations will be available on Brightspace following orientation. Patient Confidentiality It is the policy of the University Eye Center and the SUNY College of Optometry to maintain patient confidentiality. As such, the College is compliant with the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) regulations which include training staff, students and faculty providers. The privacy rules adopted as part of HIPAA, as well as the HITECH Act, established standards for the release of medical information. Procedure • Results of clinical findings are provided to patients by providers in the privacy of an examination room or consultation room. • The content of a medical record should only be discussed with the patient by the individual providing the service or the provider’s supervisor. • All conversations concerning information of a clinical nature or matter of patient privacy are conducted in an office, consultation or examination room. • Requests for medical records to be sent to outside agencies, provider offices or to the patient, are handled through the Medical Records Department only. An authorization signed by the patients is required. • Medical records are maintained securely in the University Eye Center’s Medical Records Department and in the electronic health record. • Release of HIV-related information must be in compliance with state regulation and is only handled through the Medical Records Department.

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