Resource Library
The Resource Library is a compendium of consent forms, risk management recommendations, sample documents, articles, and other risk management materials to promote ophthalmic patient safety and reduce liability. Contact riskmanagement@omic.com with questions.
Found
359
resources.
Aug 25, 2024
| Consent Form
Aug 27, 2024
| Consent Form
Sep 24, 2014
| Consent Form
Oct 5, 2024
| Recommendation
Cataract surgery is the source of the majority of medical malpractice claims reported to OMIC. Our cataract surgery recommendations can help reduce your professional liability exposure.
Oct 5, 2024
| Recommendation
Ophthalmologists are at times asked by patients to perform cataract surgery on the same or consecutive days. This will provide information for the physician to consider during the decision-making process.
Nov 7, 2019
| Consent Form
Jun 26, 2019
| Risk Management Bulletin
Cataract surgery is the second most frequently performed ophthalmic procedure in the United States, and remains the source of the majority of the medical malpractice claims reported to OMIC.
Oct 6, 2014
| Consent Form
Aug 14, 2024
| Case Study
Credibility is essential in successfully defending a lawsuit. When chart notes are altered or made outside the patient’s chart, this significantly decreases the credibility of an insured. Such chart alterations and outside notes after an adverse outcome can hinder the defense of a case and leads to increased settlement value.
Oct 8, 2024
| Article
You have just been sued for malpractice. Who would you want as your defense attorney through the legal quagmire that is sure to follow?
Feb 13, 2020
| Consent Form
Mar 19, 2023
| Consent Form
Sep 22, 2015
| Article
The claims discussed in the lead and Closed Claim articles resulted partly from poor communication among treating physicians and staff members. Here are some recommendations about ways to ensure that the necessary information is received from and communicated to the appropriate members of the healthcare team. The scenarios come from actual giant cell arteritis (GCA) claims, and some of the “advice” is from the defense experts who reviewed the claims.
Sep 22, 2015
| Article
This issue of the Digest will report on a study of OMIC claims involving 18 patients diagnosed with GCA between 1993 and 2014. This constellation of incomplete history, poor coordination of care among physicians, and problems with patient adherence occurred in many of the claims, including the one in the Closed Claim Study.
Oct 9, 2014
| Consent Form
Apr 13, 2023
| Sample Letter or Form
As treatment decisions are based solely upon information exchanged during the patient-provider conversation, use of this form can help reduce risk when optometrists provide after-hours call.
Jul 9, 2018
| Consent Form
Oct 11, 2013
| Consent Form
Apr 13, 2023
| Recommendation
Ophthalmologists may share the care of ophthalmic surgery patients with community optometrists or optometrists within their practice. There are patient safety and liability risks associated with surgical comanagement.
Jun 26, 2019
| Risk Management Bulletin
Some ophthalmologists share care of ophthalmic surgery patients with community optometrists or optometrists within their practice. There are patient safety and liability risks associated with surgical comanagement, whether it takes place within a practice or outside of it.
Aug 10, 2022
| Risk Management Bulletin
OMIC offers risk management strategies to ensure patient safety, and avoid liability risks associated with surgical comanagement, whether it takes place within a practice or outside of it. These recommendations are based upon OMIC claims experience.
Feb 14, 2023
| Risk Management Bulletin
Practices that fail to send PHI through a safe and secure platform run the risk of HIPAA violations and financial penalties.
Jun 12, 2017
| Sample Letter or Form
When providing free vision screening, use this form to notify participants of the need for a comprehensive eye exam.
Oct 3, 2014
| Consent Form
Jun 20, 2017
| Risk Management Bulletin
Minor-aged patients are often brought to the pediatrician for non-urgent acute medical care or health supervision visits by someone other than their custodial parent or guardian. These two forms will assist you with obtaining permission or consent from someone other than the custodial parent or legal guardian.
Aug 16, 2024
| Sample Letter or Form
This is a sample agreement to comply with the Federal Trade Commission’s Contact Lens (prescription) Rule (effective 10/16/2020).
Oct 5, 2020
| Sample Letter or Form
Send this letter to your patients who request copies of their contact lens prescriptions.
Aug 16, 2024
| Sample Letter or Form
The Federal Trade Commission’s Contact Lens Rule that went into effect on October 16, 2020, requires practices to confirm in writing that patients received their contact lens prescriptions. This patient acknowledgement form can be used to comply with the Rule.
Oct 8, 2020
| Sample Letter or Form
Links to sample patient forms to assist your practice with patient requests for contact lens prescriptions.
Aug 16, 2024
| Sample Letter or Form
This letter is a denial of a contact lens prescription request by the patient. The patient has been examined and/or fitted for contact lenses but needs additional care to confirm the prescription.
Apr 13, 2023
| Recommendation
Optometrists are independent practitioners, but there are differences in education and legal scope of practice between eye physicians/surgeons and ODs.
Aug 15, 2016
| Consent Form
Jan 7, 2020
| Consent Form
Nov 1, 2018
| Sample Protocol
You should be prepared if a patient with disabilities requests use of a service animal. The attached is an example of a court document a medical practice was required to submit after a complaint was filed by a patient.
Feb 3, 2021
| Consent Form
Aug 15, 2018
| Article
OMIC has seen a significant rise in cyber/eMD claims and increasing losses due to security breaches and ransomware attacks.
Feb 13, 2020
| Consent Form
Oct 6, 2014
| Consent Form
Oct 1, 2019
| Article
Ophthalmologists examine many patients who are taking systemic medications that can cause ocular toxicity and a temporary decrease in visual acuity, or at worst, irreversible blindness. Ophthalmologists may be the first clinicians to note adverse effects, or be asked to monitor for them. This issue of the Digest will review closed claims involving hydroxychloroquine, ethambutol, gentamicin, and amiodarone, and suggest risk reduction strategies for ophthalmic practices to implement.
Sep 29, 2021
| Article
As noted in the lead article, there are myriad factors that lead to physician stress and burnout. One of those factors is disruptive patients. On the Hotline, we receive many calls from insureds who need assistance in managing patients who are rude, demanding, and non-compliant. Taking early action to resolve these issues will mitigate the risk of a medical malpractice claim, ensure your patients receive the excellent care you wish to provide, and help you avoid burnout.
Oct 8, 2024
| Article
Ophthalmologists inquiring about professional liability insurance often ask how OMIC selects defense counsel when a claim or lawsuit arises. They want to know which attorneys OMIC uses in their city, how OMIC chooses the attorneys it appoints, and if insureds can select their own counsel.
Feb 21, 2018
| Article
As reported in the lead article, our recent study of diagnostic error (DE) claims showed that the ophthalmologist’s care was the primary factor in the delayed diagnosis of retinal detachments (RDs). Experts evaluating such malpractice claims have the advantage of knowing the patient’s outcome and reviewing the records generated by all staff members and providers.
Sep 17, 2016
| Article
Failure to diagnose a condition in a timely manner may lead to patient harm and professional liability exposure. Efforts to reduce the likelihood of diagnostic delay is especially critical in pediatric care since such delays can lead to death or a lifetime of bilateral blindness.
Apr 15, 2016
| Article
In September 2014, the ophthalmologists who compose OMIC’s Claims Committee noticed an increase in OMIC malpractice cases alleging diagnostic error and asked risk management staff to explore the reasons behind this apparent trend. We looked at OMIC claims that were resolved over the seven-year period from 2008 to 2014 and presented this data at the OMIC Forum at the 2015 AAO annual meeting in Las Vegas. Many of our policyholders were not able to attend the Forum, so we are pleased to share this information from the “OMIC study” in the Digest.
Oct 23, 2020
| Recommendation
Dilating drops are used on countless patients daily during diagnostic examinations and surgical procedures. Understand the patient safety and liability risks associated with them.
Aug 25, 2024
| Consent Form
Aug 9, 2024
| Recommendation
Disclosure of an adverse event or unanticipated outcome is important for patient safety, patient trust, patient right to autonomy to make decisions about treatment, continuity of care among providers, and to provide empathy.
Sep 11, 2024
| Risk Management Bulletin
A summary of recommended steps to consider in the disclosure process.
Aug 25, 2024
| Article
Before routine eye examinations and refractions, what should you tell patients about cycloplegic or mydriatic eye drops? When should this information be given? How important is it from a risk management standpoint?
Feb 26, 2019
| Risk Management Bulletin
Do you know the two questions you are allowed to ask about the service animal? Do you know what the ADA requirements are regarding posting a sign in your office stating, "Service Animals Welcome"?