JAMA ophthalmology
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Understanding outcomes of pediatric malpractice litigation allows ophthalmologists to gain insight into how to best care for patients and prevent such litigation. ⋯ Malpractice litigation involving pediatric patients was more likely to be resolved in favor of the plaintiff and was associated with higher monetary awards than was adult litigation. Cases involving retinopathy of prematurity resulted in the highest payments to plaintiffs, and cases involving legal blindness and/or endophthalmitis were more likely to be resolved in favor of the plaintiff. This information may give pediatric ophthalmologists insight into the situations and conditions that commonly lead to litigation.
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Comparative Study
Cost and Visit Duration of Same-Day Access at an Academic Ophthalmology Department vs Emergency Department.
Convenient outpatient access for ophthalmology patients seeking urgent care could offer savings compared with an emergency department (ED) visit. ⋯ Same-day access appears to be less expensive and to require less time in the health care system than a visit to the ED for an ophthalmic diagnosis. Substantial savings in time and money might be achieved if urgent eye care is delivered in the clinic rather than the ED.
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Multicenter Study
Epidemiologic Trends of Chemical Ocular Burns in the United States.
Determining the national epidemiologic trends of chemical ocular burns can assist physicians and policy makers in appropriate allocation of resources for treatment and prevention. ⋯ Young children represent the single highest-risk group for ocular chemical injuries. Education and other interventions concerned with preventing these injuries will be most effective if used accordingly.
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Diplopia is believed to be a common eye-related symptom. However, to date, there are no available population-based estimates, which are necessary to understand the impact of this disabling symptom on the health care system and to identify steps to optimize patient care. ⋯ Approximately 850 000 diplopia visits occur in the United States annually; 95% were outpatient visits, and diagnoses were rarely serious in the ambulatory setting but potentially life threatening in 16% of diplopia-related ED visits. Given the low probability of a serious neurologic diagnosis in the ambulatory setting and higher probability in an ED, future cohort studies are needed to define the association of various diagnostic practice patterns, such as imaging, with patient outcomes.