Reports of adverse incidents in the practice of optometry.

(1) Effective January 1, 2014, an adverse incident occurring in the practice of optometry must be reported to the department in accordance with this section.

(2) The required notification must be in writing and submitted to the department by certified mail. The required notification must be postmarked within 15 days after the adverse incident if the adverse incident occurs when the patient is at the office of the licensed practitioner. If the adverse incident occurs when the patient is not at the office of the licensed practitioner, the required notification must be postmarked within 15 days after the licensed practitioner discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the occurrence of the adverse incident.

(3) For purposes of notification to the department, the term “adverse incident,” as used in this section, means any of the following events when it is reasonable to believe that the event is attributable to the prescription of an oral ocular pharmaceutical agent by the licensed practitioner:

(a) Any condition that requires the transfer of a patient to a hospital licensed under chapter 395.

(b) Any condition that requires the patient to obtain care from a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, other than a referral or a consultation required under this chapter.

(c) Permanent physical injury to the patient.

(d) Partial or complete permanent loss of sight by the patient.

(e) Death of the patient.

(4) The department shall review each incident and determine whether it potentially involved conduct by the licensed practitioner who may be subject to disciplinary action, in which event s. 456.073 applies. Disciplinary action, if any, shall be taken by the board.