Anti-VEGF Drugs for Adults
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. These include Avastin, BEOVU, Lucentis, and Eylea. Sometimes the indication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), other times it is off-label, or the medication itself may never have been approved for any eye indication.
Time out before intravitreal injections is a sample protocol to verify the patient, drug, dose, etc.
AntiVEGF for adults (updated 2023) presents suggestions to increase patient safety and decrease the likelihood of lawsuits related to these drugs. It also provides information about our revised sample consent documents for anti-VEGF agents:
Fall Prevention
In an issue of the Ophthalmic Risk Management Digest devoted to falls, we examined the circumstances surrounding the falls, determined factors that increased their likelihood, and offered suggestions on ways to identify and assist those most at risk. Fall Prevention summarizes the risk management recommendations. Please see that issue of the Digest for additional case studies, an analysis of the difference between professional liability and premises liability claims related to falls, and information on money paid to settle these claims: http://www.omic.com/2015-v25-n2/.
Interpreters for Limited English Proficiency and Hearing or Vision Impaired Patients
Interpreters for LEP and Hearing – Vision Impaired
Referral Form for Patient and Physician
When you refer your patient to another healthcare provider (particularly for urgent or emergent situations or lab work), we suggest that you send a referral request to the provider and give the patient (family member, caregiver etc.) a written document with details regarding the referral. This recommendation is based on several major lawsuits OMIC has litigated where the patient has denied being referred for a consultation, even when there was a clear note in the patient’s chart that such a referral was made. We have been able to successfully defend some of these cases, others we have had to settle. However, regardless of the outcome, it was clear the cases were more difficult to defend because of the lack of evidence the patient received written documentation of their condition and the urgency of the referral.
Download a copy of the referral form to send to the other physician by clicking here: Referral Note to MD.
Download a copy of the referral form by clicking here: Referral Note for Patient
The sample referral note is an example of what OMIC considers important information to provide to the patient. This is simply a recommendation and does not constitute a standard of care. You will want to modify the referral note to best meet your patient’s specific needs.
After-Hours Contact Form and Recommendations
After-hours call recommendations and form
Making medical decisions on the basis of the limited information obtained over the telephone is a risky—albeit necessary—aspect of ophthalmic practice. Indeed, OMIC claims experience confirms that inadequate telephone screening, improper decision-making, and lack of documentation all play a significant role in ophthalmic malpractice claims. Negligent telephone screening and treatment of postoperative patients is especially likely to result in malpractice claims.
Use our After Hours Screening Recommendations & Form to document these conversations and to inform physicians of care you have provided to their patients.
