HARRISBURG: The Patient Safety Authority has recommended two programs, each developed by a nationally recognized patient safety organization, that healthcare facilities can adopt to help reduce medical errors and other adverse events.

Under provisions of Act 13, the Medical Care and Reduction of Error (“Mcare”) Act, if healthcare facilities can demonstrate a reduction in what Act 13 calls “serious events” as a result of adopting one of these programs, they may be eligible for a discount on medical professional liability coverage under protocols developed by the Departments of Health and Insurance.

At its regularly scheduled public meeting on February 7, 2005, the Authority’s Board of Directors voted to recommend the “Stand Up for Patient Safety” program developed by the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) and the “100,000 Lives Campaign” developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

The “Stand Up for Patient Safety” program encourages hospital senior managers to consider patient safety as a top priority for their facilities. By providing practical solutions and sharing best practices to minimize error and reduce risk, the program uses performance improvement to support patient safety initiatives within individual healthcare institutions. Most important, the “Stand Up for Patient Safety” program helps integrate patient safety into a hospital’s culture by involving facility administrators, trustees, clinical staff and patients in the effort.

According to Diane Pinakiewicz, acting executive director of the National Patient Safety Foundation, “NPSF applauds the work of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and is very pleased by its endorsement of our “Stand Up for Patient Safety” program. We are hopeful that this NPSF program will bring valuable assistance to Pennsylvania hospitals in support of their patient safety initiatives while also providing an important opportunity for relief on their current malpractice burdens."

The “100,000 Lives Campaign” is a national effort to encourage healthcare providers across the country to implement one or more proven patient safety initiatives. In support of this effort, the campaign is enlisting hospitals who will commit to implementing at least one of six proven healthcare protocols to prevent avoidable deaths. These healthcare improvement interventions are: Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia; Prevention of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections; Prevention of Surgical Site Infections; Prevention of Adverse Drug Events; Improved Care for Acute Myocardial Infarction; and Introduction of Rapid Response Teams.

Joe McCannon, “100,000 Lives Campaign” Manager, acknowledged the importance of the Patient Safety Authority’s recommendation. “The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority has shown great leadership in encouraging healthcare facilities to join the “100,000 Lives Campaign,” and we are deeply grateful for this support. We believe that our initiative has the potential to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in our nation’s hospitals, extending the duration of patients’ lives and enhancing the quality of their days by strengthening the systems that serve them. If we succeed, the knowledge that these patients are surviving and thriving with family and friends will be our wonderful reward.”

Facilities subject to Act 13 patient safety requirements are eligible for potential insurance premium discounts. According to Section 312 of the Act (the “Patient Safety Discount” section), recommendations from the Authority are the first step in a multi-step process involving the Departments of Health and Insurance, as well as individual facilities, which must demonstrate a measurable reduction in the number of Serious Events in their facilities as a result of having adopted a recommended program.

Healthcare facilities eligible for the possible insurance premium discount program include hospitals, birthing centers and ambulatory surgical facilities (ASFs). Although not eligible for this program, other types of healthcare institutions may adopt all or part of the “Stand Up for Patient Safety” and “100,000 Lives Campaign” programs as part of their individual patient safety and quality improvement activities.

BACKGROUND

The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the safety of patients. Founded in 1996, it focuses on research and education and is committed to making patient safety a national priority. More information about NPSF or the “Stand Up for Patient Safety” program is available at the NPSF website at www.npsf.org.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), also a non-profit organization, was founded in 1991 to advance the quality and value of healthcare. Based in Boston, it focuses on measurable process improvements in healthcare institutions and has been in the forefront of worldwide efforts to reduce poor quality, wasteful practices, avoidable errors and unanticipated deaths. More information about the “100,000 Lives Campaign” is available at the program’s website click here, or by calling 1-866-787-0831.

The Patient Safety Authority is an independent state agency created by Act 13 of 2002, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (“Mcare”) Act, to help reduce and eliminate medical errors by identifying problems and recommending solutions that promote patient safety. Under the Act, all Pennsylvania-licensed hospitals, birthing centers and ambulatory surgical facilities are required to report what the Act defines as “serious events” and “incidents” to the Authority. More than 420 healthcare facilities are subject to Act 13 reporting requirements.

Facilities submit reports of serious events and incidents through the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS), a confidential web-based system that collects and analyzes data for patient safety and quality improvement purposes. Based on the reports submitted, the Authority issues quarterly Patient Safety Advisories to advise hospitals and other healthcare facilities about steps they can take to reduce and prevent patient harm. Statewide mandatory reporting through PA-PSRS went into effect in June 2004, making Pennsylvania the first state in the nation to require the reporting of both actual events and “near-misses.”

For additional information about the Patient Safety Authority, the PA-PSRS program or the Patient Safety Advisories, visit the Authority’s website at www.patientsafetyauthority.org.

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