Confidentiality and Patient Rights

All visits to the SJSU Student Wellness Center are confidential, as the university complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Patient records are kept confidential and will not be released without written consent.

The entire SJSU Student Wellness Center team is dedicated to providing confidential services with constant attention to the following:

Patient Bill of Rights

  • To be treated with respect, consideration and dignity
  • To be given privacy during discussion, check in, evaluation, and treatment
  • To access interpretation services
  • To be provided information concerning your diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and prognosis or if it is medically advisable, to have the information provided to a person designated by you or to a legally authorized person
  • To have the opportunity to participate in decisions involving your health care unless it is contraindicated for medical reasons
  • To voice any comments, feedback, or grievances through the suggestion box at the Student Wellness Center addressed to the Student Wellness Center Executive Director
  • To change providers if other providers are available
  • To be informed of Student Wellness Center's policies regarding your rights and responsibilities and availability of service
  • To refuse treatment at any time
  • To learn more information on health care consumer protections from the Medical Board of California
  • To refuse to participate in research 

Patient Responsibilities

  • To bring a picture I.D. to every visit
  • To present accurate identifying information
  • To arrive on time for appointments and to cancel appointments ahead of time so that other patients may utilize that time
  • To ask for clarification whenever information or instructions are not understood
  • To know the name of your health care professional
  • To provide complete and accurate information to the best of your ability about your health, any medications taken, including over-the-counter products and dietary supplements, and any allergies or sensitivities
  • To follow the agreed-upon treatment plan prescribed by your provider and participate in your care
  • To provide, if possible, a responsible adult to transport you from the Student Wellness Center and remain with you as directed by the provider
  • To pay for services received
  • To behave respectfully towards all health care professionals and staff, as well as other patients and visitors and in conformity with San José State University's Student Code of Conduct. Behavior not consistent with the Student Code of Conduct can result in referral to other university offices.

Privacy Practices and Open Payments Data


The San José State University Student Wellness Center (SWC) is committed to preserving the privacy and confidentiality of protected health information (PHI). California and Federal laws and regulations require the SWC to safeguard the privacy of your protected health information (PHI). PHI is any information in the medical record or that can be used to identify an individual and that was created, used, or disclosed in the course of providing a health care service.

The Notice of Privacy Practices and Open Payments Database describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. This notice also includes information pertaining to the Open Payments Database. 

For informational purposes only, visit the federal Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public.

Limits of Confidentiality

California law places some limits on confidentiality:

  • If you tell your provider you were abused as a child, and you are under 18 years of age at the time you tell your provider, they must report the abuse to a county Child Protective Services agency.
  • If you are over 18 when you tell the provider, but there is a child currently at risk by the same abuser, then the provider may be required to make a report to a county agency.
  • If you tell your provider about being sexually assaulted, the provider is not required to make a report unless you are under 18 at the time you tell the provider.
  • If you tell your provider about elder or dependent adult abuse, the provider may be required to make a report.
  • If you pose a danger to yourself, the provider may be legally obligated to take whatever actions necessary to protect you from harm.
  • If you tell your provider that you intend to do imminent harm to a specific person(s), your provider is required by law to inform the authorities, intended victim(s) and take additional action if necessary.
  • If a court of law orders a provider to release information, that person is bound by law to comply with such an order.