Cataract Surgery Safety: Strategies to Reduce Adverse Events Using a Systems Approach
Presented by Michelle Pineda, MBA
Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company (OMIC)
Aaron Holtebeck, MD
OMIC Committee member
The largest number of OMIC claims are related to cataract surgery. Using actual claims and lawsuits, we will discuss the following objectives:
- Identify gaps in systems and processes that increase the risk of adverse outcomes.
- Recognize system and human factors that contribute to patient harm.
- Use a systems approach to apply lessons learned from malpractice claims to risk management and patient safety strategies to prevent similar events.
Michelle Pineda serves as Risk Manager at OMIC, where she has been a team member since January 2014. She earned her MBA from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA, and holds a BA in English Literature from California State University, East Bay. With more than two decades of experience in professional liability claims, sales, and risk management, Michelle brings deep expertise and a proven track record to her role.
As a comprehensive ophthalmologist, Aaron Holtebeck, MD specializes in cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, eye care for diabetics, and glaucoma surgery, with a special interest in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
Born in Appleton, Dr. Holtebeck received his MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin, followed by an internship at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Milwaukee. Dr. Holtebeck completed an ophthalmology residency at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
In 2021, he formed the Holtebeck Eye Center SC in Brookfield, elevating his commitment to excellence in patient care by curating each patient experience from start to finish with empathy and compassion.
Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, Dr. Holtebeck is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, as well as several other local and state ophthalmology societies.
Dr. Holtebeck enjoys spending time outdoors bicycling and skiing. He has skied the American Birkebeiner in Hayward each year since 2006 and has also traveled to Norway to ski in the Norwegian Birkebeiner. Dr. Holtebeck is an avid fan of all Wisconsin sports and was the official courtside ophthalmologist for the Milwaukee Bucks from 2008 through 2018.
We begin at 6 p.m. with networking, appetizers, and cash bar, followed by the meeting and dinner at 6:45 p.m. Members are encouraged to invite guests.
