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March
12, 2003
For
Immediate Release
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Contact:
Richard Deutsch
202-331-5790 Ext. 313 |
AHQA
Supports House on Medical Errors; Urges Senate Action
Washington, D.C.—
The American Health Quality Association (AHQA) issued a statement of support for
legislation passed today by the House of Representatives designed to help prevent
medical errors and ensure patient safety. AHQA represents Quality Improvement
Organizations (QIOs) and health care professionals working to improve the safety
and quality of health care nationwide.
The House legislation
establishes Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) to help health care providers
collect and analyze information about errors and "near misses" affecting
patient safety, teach best practices, and promote systemic changes to prevent
recurrence of problems in hospitals, physicians’ offices, and other settings.
The legislation also instructs the government to collect and share de-identified
information about medical errors so that health professionals can learn from others’
mistakes.
"We strongly
support removing barriers that prevent health care providers from sharing information
needed to improve patient safety and health care quality," said David Schulke,
AHQA Executive Vice President. He called the House legislation
a major step
towards improving patient safety and reducing the incidence of medical errors
highlighted by the Institute of Medicine. "Final passage of this legislation
will significantly improve the current situation by creating a voluntary and non-punitive
environment for health care professionals to discuss the causes of medical errors
and redesign systems to prevent further harm to patients," he said, expressing
optimism that the Senate will move quickly to approve similar legislation.
Schulke pointed
out that Quality Improvement Organizations offer a "proven model" for
the new PSOs and are ready and willing to serve in that capacity in every state.
He urged Congress to make greater use of QIOs to accelerate the implementation
of patient safety efforts.
QIOs have had noted
success in improving patient safety, particularly for Medicare beneficiaries.
Under contract to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at HHS, QIOs
currently work with hospitals and physicians on a national basis to improve the
safety and quality of care for beneficiaries suffering from heart attacks, heart
disease, pneumonia, and diabetes—as well as helping to promote preventive care
for breast cancer, flu, and other infectious diseases. QIOs have taken the lead
in a major national effort to help hospitals prevent post-surgical site infections,
and are also actively involved in helping nursing homes and home health agencies
improve quality of care.
More
on Quality Improvement Organizations: www.ahqa.org
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