PATIENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS

UAB Optometry has adopted the following Patient's Bill of Rights. We seek to provide quality care to all of our patients, and educate our students to serve the public with these goals.

1. All patients have the right to considerate and respectful care, and to receive the highest available level of quality care regardless of race, creed, religion, or national origin.

2. The patient has the right to obtain complete information concerning their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis from their provider in terms the patient can understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be provided to an appropriate person in their behalf. The patient has the right to know by name the provider responsible for coordinating their care.

3. The patient has the right to receive from his provider all information necessary to give consent, and to give consent prior to referral for additional care or the start of a program of therapy. Except in emergencies, such information for consent should include (but not be limited to) the specific procedure and/or treatment, any risks involved, and the probable duration of treatment. When significant alternatives for care exist, the patient has the right to, and will be provided with, this information.

4. The patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the consequences of this action.

5. All patients have the right to every consideration of privacy concerning their health care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and will be conducted discretely. Individuals not directly involved in providing care must have the permission of the patient to be present.

6. All patients have the right that all communications and records pertaining to their care will be treated as confidential.

7. The patient has the right that the clinic will make a reasonable response to all requests for services. The clinic will provide evaluation and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the care. When necessary, patients may be referred to another provider of health services only after receiving complete information concerning the needs for this referral.

8. All patients have the right to obtain information as to relationships between the school and other health care and educational institutions insofar as referral care is concerned. All patients have the right to obtain information as to the existence of professional relationships among all providers (by name) who are treating him.

9. All patients have the right by law to provide informed consent if the clinic proposes to engage in or perform experimentation affecting his care or treatment. All patients have the right to refuse to participate in research projects and to receive more traditional care.

10. All patients have the right to expect reasonable continuity of care. They have the right to know in advance what appointment times and services are available and their location. All patients have the right to expect that the clinic will provide information on the patient's continuing health care requirements following treatment.

11. All patients have the right to be informed of all professional fees prior to the provision of such services. They have the right to examine and receive explanations of all bills regardless of source of payment.

12. All patients have the right to know what institutional rules and regulations apply to their conduct as a patient.

13. All patients have the right to know that case review and quality management procedures exist and have the right to be advised of how they may be initiated.

UAB Optometry believes that all clinical care must be conducted with an overriding concern for the patient, and above all, the recognition of his or her dignity as a human being.