HHS publishs proposed rule for creating patient safety organizations, facilitate voluntary reporting

The Department of Health and Human Services published today a proposed rule to implement certain aspects of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (Patient Safety Act), that would allow for the creation of patient safety organizations.

The proposed regulations establish a framework by which hospitals, doctors, and other health care providers may voluntarily report information to Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs), on a privileged and confidential basis, for analysis of medical errors or near errors.

The law also requires that analysis of regional and national statistics and trends be made public via annual reports from the patient safety organizations (Health Data Management).

– Patient Safety and Quality Improvement; Proposed Rule, Department Health and Services, 42 CFR Part 3, 2/12/2008