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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 94 resources.
Jan 15, 2019 | Risk Management Bulletin
On December 28, 2018, Allergan issued an "Urgent Drug Recall" of 22 lots of OZURDEX.
Jul 8, 2024 | Risk Management Bulletin
To better protect yourself from anesthesia liability exposure, review OMIC’s risk recommendations regarding each of these factors.
Jun 30, 2015 | Risk Management Bulletin
Vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, is a protein that stimulates the growth of new blood vessels. Ophthalmologists administer intravitreal anti-VEFG agents to adults for a variety of indications.
Feb 21, 2023 | Recommendation
This risk management document presents suggestions to increase patient safety and decrease the likelihood of lawsuits related to these drugs. It also provides information about our sample consent documents for anti-VEGF agents.
Jun 30, 2015 | Risk Management Bulletin
Anti-VEGF drugs for adults addresses on- and off-label use, preventing endophthalmitis, informed consent issues, and documentation. It incorporates key guidelines on intravitreal injection published by a panel of experts. It also addresses the FDA warning about Avastin in more detail.
Mar 13, 2020 | Consent Form
Oct 18, 2019 | Risk Management Bulletin
There are two BEOVU forms.
Nov 2, 2022 | Risk Management Bulletin
An increasing number of ophthalmologists treating retinal conditions with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents are being asked by health systems and hospitals to utilize bevacizumab biosimilar drugs.
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.
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.
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.
Feb 6, 2023 | Recommendation
Inaccurate or incomplete documentation is a threat to patient safety and hampers the defense of a medical malpractice lawsuit. Conversely, careful documentation of the history, exam, and decision-making process may dissuade a lawsuit.
Oct 15, 2018 | Article
A number of plaintiffs who filed a claim against OMIC insureds after developing endophthalmitis inadvertently delayed their own diagnosis and treatment. Our experts reviewing such claims try to determine whether the defendant could have handled the situation better. 
Aug 15, 2018 | Article
Infection is a risk of all surgeries. Endophthalmitis is a particularly worrisome type of infection because it can lead to severe vision loss, blindness, and loss of the eye.
Oct 14, 2018 | Case Study
An ophthalmologist injected 8 patients to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Despite treatment, each patient lost visual acuity. Seven of the eight patients filed lawsuits against the ophthalmologist and practice. From OMIC’s perspective, these cases were indefensible and needed to be settled.
Aug 12, 2023 | Article
OMIC has published two reports of endophthalmitis claims studies, one in 2006 and another in 2017. This issue of the Digest updates those studies with data from OMIC’s endophthalmitis claims closed between January 2018 and December 2022, thereby creating a complete analysis of endophthalmitis claims experience from the time of OMIC’s founding in 1987 through 2022.
Oct 10, 2024 | Case Study
Use of excess gas cases usually have devastating visual outcomes and often result in expensive settlements.
Mar 13, 2020 | Consent Form
Jun 30, 2015 | Risk Management Bulletin
There are two Eylea consent forms.
Feb 21, 2018 | Case Study
A patient presented to an OMIC insured comprehensive ophthalmologist on referral from the emergency department. He reported a fall at work where he struck the left side of his head, face, and hip. The insured did not appear to take the recent fall into account when evaluating the vision loss.
Feb 20, 2017 | Article
In a study of OMIC diagnostic error (DE) claims, we learned that those involving a retinal condition were the most common, accounting for 38% of the claims closed between 2008 and 2014. By far, the most frequently missed diagnosis in our entire study was retinal detachment (RD).
Jul 13, 2017 | Recommendation
Here are some risk management recommendations to help you and your staff members prevent and better respond to the risks of the procedure. Issues addressed in Fluorescein Angiography Recommendations and Consent include delegation of tasks, informed consent, emergency response equipment, and management of complications.
Aug 4, 2020 | Recommendation
Ophthalmologists have contacted OMIC to inquire about the medicolegal consequences of “off-label” use of these drugs.
Aug 15, 2014 | Article
When plaintiffs sue for medical malpractice after eye surgery, experts review the entire process of care from diagnosis of the condition to management of postoperative problems. Sometimes, claims that initially appear to be about the outcome of a surgical procedure ultimately hinge on care provided well before the surgery. This issue of the Digest will examine allegations of negligent preoperative evaluation, specifically, medical preoperative decision-making.
Aug 15, 2024 | Case Study
Stress of litigation can be overwhelming. The first case settled at the insured's request because he could not bear the stress of a potential trial. The second case also settled after the insured took a medical leave due partially to the stress of litigation.
Jan 9, 2020 | Risk Management Bulletin
To assist in assessing patients with acute presentations, including retinal ischemia, OMIC Committee member Dr. Gaurav Shah and retina fellow Dr. Alex Boutini of Retina Consultants, Ltd (St. Louis, MO) developed an algorithm called Acute Ophthalmic Presentations.
Jun 26, 2019 | Risk Management Bulletin
We would like to draw your attention to new guidelines on the management of acute retinal ischemia that indicate an urgent need to change how ophthalmologists approach patients with this condition. We also discuss what to do if your community does not have the recommended resources.
May 10, 2014 | Case Study
The patient history and physical exam were appropriately performed and documented; however, the insured did not take into account that the findings indicated an increased risk for bleeding and retinal detachment, which could lead to blindness in the patient’s remaining good eye.
Oct 10, 2024 | Article
This edition of the Digest reports the analysis of closed claims between 1/1/2009 and 12/31/2022 involving the administration of the incorrect type and concentration of gas, which are considered Never Events.
Nov 14, 2023 | Recommendation
Patients who do not show up for appointments or follow treatment recommendations represent a significant professional liability risk for ophthalmologists. This noncompliance toolkit discusses the issues and provides sample letters.
Aug 17, 2024 | Sample Letter or Form
Allergan recalled certain lots of OZURDEX due to findings of particulate matter that may result in mild symptoms. Use this letter to notify patients treated with OZURDEX.