Patient Bill of Rights

The patient has the right to the most appropriate optometric, ophthalmological and other health care for a particular problem, regardless of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin or ability to pay.
The patient has a right to considerate and respectful treatment. The patient is to be addressed by his or her proper name and without undue familiarity. The patient has a right to be listened to and to receive an appropriate response.
The patient has a right to be treated in a warm, friendly and unhurried manner in an atmosphere of concern and frankness. The patient has a right to be in comfortable and appealing surroundings while in The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
The patient has a right to expect that individuality will be respected and that differences in educational and cultural backgrounds will be taken into consideration.
The patient has a right to privacy in The Eye Institute and a right to talk with students, interns, residents, physicians, optometrists and other personal without being overheard.
The patient has a right to know the relationship between The Eye Institute, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, its clinical teaching facilities and affiliated institutions.
The patient has a right to know the name of the student, intern, resident, optometrist, physician or technician rendering patient care and talk with all health care providers attending the case. Because this is a major teaching facility of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, patients may encounter doctors, technicians and other health care providers in training. We believe that the presence of these professional-in-training adds to the quality of care.
The patient has a right to expect continuity of care and to know in advance about appointments times and anticipated times for diagnostic and therapeutic visits. The patient has the right to expect prompt attention in emergency situations.
The patient has a right to full explanation about diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of his/her case. The patient has the right to learn from his/her doctors, in plain language, all the facts needed to give advanced informed consent to any procedure or treatment.
The patient has a right to be advised if The Eye Institute proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting his care or treatment. The patient has a right to refuse to participate in such research projects and to receive more traditional care or to be referred for such if it is available.
When a diagnosis has been made and a treatment plan developed, the patient will be given the choice of continuing with patient care services at The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry or seeking care elsewhere.
When a treatment plan includes a spectacle prescription, the patient will be given the choice of having it filled in the Optical Service of The Eye Institute of having in filled elsewhere. The patient has a right to receive a copy of his/her spectacle prescription.
The patient has the right to expect that The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry will provide for appropriate referral when indicated.
The patient has a right to refuse any prescribed treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of this action. Refusal of treatment releases The Eye Institute of responsibility for the problem for which treatment was refused.
The patient has a right to another opinion of his/her case if desired.
The patient has a right of confidentiality of patient care records. The patient has a right to review the information in his/her record. The patient may request that copies of records be sent to other health care providers responsible for his/her care. For the patient’s protection we require signed authorization and positive identification to release medical record information. If the patient has questions on the information he/she acquires from his/her medical records they should be directed to his/her own doctor.
The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of his bill regardless of source of payment.
The patient has a right to inquire about the possibility of financial aid.