Malpractice payments by optometrists: An analysis of the national practitioner databank over 18 years

Abstract 

Purpose

The aim of this analysis was to describe characteristics and trends of malpractice payments by optometrists since the inception of the National Provider Data Bank (NPDB) as they assumed increasing prescriptive authority.

Methods

NPDB data files were analyzed for details of optometrist malpractice payments from 1991 through 2008. Payment amounts, sources, and allegations were all identified and summarized, along with geographic and demographic data.

Results

Between 1991 and 2008, a total of 609 optometrist malpractice payments were reported nationally, ranging from $50 to $2,050,000 (median, $57,500; mean, $156,055 ± 246,556), with 603 (99%) less than $1,000,000. Annual inflation-adjusted mean dollars and frequency of payments increased only nominally over the 18-year interval, from $154,573 to $155,151, and 30 to 40, respectively. More than half of all cases originated in 11 states. Alleged errors in diagnosis accounted for 55% of all cases.

Conclusion

Malpractice payments on behalf of optometrists are relatively infrequent (on average, less than 34 nationally each year) and usually relatively small (almost half less than $50,000). The frequency of payments and mean payments have increased little over the last 2 decades.

Keywords: National Practitioner Data Bank, Optometrist malpractice, Optometrist prescriptive authority