VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

White Coats and VCOM ID Badges At the end of Block 1 of the OMS 1 year, students participate in the White Coat Ceremony. The White Coat Ceremony is a traditional rite of passage for medical students, symbolizing their transition into the medical profession. It's a significant event that occurs at the beginning of medical school, marking the students' welcome into the medical community. All students are required to participate in the White Coat Ceremony. Rare exceptions are made to this requirement, primarily for health reasons and must be granted through an appeal to the Dean. The VCOM short white coat and ID badge identifies the individual as a medical student at VCOM. Students must wear their VCOM white coat and ID badge in all VCOM designated clinical settings and to designated and approved VCOM events. VCOM students should not wear their VCOM white coat or ID badge or verbally represent themselves as representing VCOM for non-VCOM sponsored events. These include, but are not limited to, shadowing experiences that are not part of the VCOM curriculum, volunteer activities that are not VCOM sponsored, or functions that are not VCOM events such as those that are of a political or social nature. Students should not give their white coat or ID badge to another student or to an individual who is not a VCOM student. If the VCOM white coat or ID badge is missing or stolen, the student must report this to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs as soon as possible. Not wearing the white coat and ID badge as required, wearing the VCOM white coat or ID badge to non-VCOM sponsored events, or giving or loaning these items to others is considered unprofessional behavior and subject to disciplinary action. Any questions or clarification should be directed to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Patient Confidentiality During the course of study, students will come in contact with a patient's confidential information. Special laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), govern the release of confidential patient information to others. In general, students are permitted to discuss patient information with medical personnel who are directly involved in providing the patient's care. In some cases, in making a medical presentation, a patient’s condition may be discussed but must be presented without any personally identifiable information. Students must obtain permission for presentations and should not divulge a patient's name or other identifying information that is considered confidential information. Students should not divulge a patient's confidential information whether in formal or in casual comment in any other arena in which they do not have the patient or physician’s permission to do so. Any discussion of a patient, peer, physician or healthcare facility should be a professional discussion and not cause misunderstanding or distrust of the medical care offered at the site. Failure to adhere to this professional behavior constitutes a violation of the VCOM Honor Code. Medical Records/Charting The responsibility given to students for medical records varies among the hospitals and clinics. Some sites allow students to write full progress notes and orders directly into the patient's chart. When this is allowed, notes must be immediately co-signed by the supervising physician and that physician must follow this with her or her physician note. At no time do the student notes serve as the physician preceptor’s notes. Billing must be directly related to the physician preceptor’s notes. Some other hospitals/clinics have separate pages in charts set aside for "Student Progress Notes.” These should also be reviewed and co-signed by the attending physician. Notes are usually written or entered in the SOAP format. If dictation or computerized entry is allowed by students at a particular hospital or clinic, the resulting notes must also be reviewed and approved by the attending. The student is responsible for obtaining charting instructions from the preceptor or rotation coordinator.

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