AMA provides guidance on creation of patient safety organizations

For immediate release
April 11, 2008

Statement attributable to:
J. James Rohack, MD
AMA Board Member

"The AMA is dedicated to improving the quality and safety of health care for patients, and to help meet that goal we have provided the government with the physicians’ viewpoint on how to best proceed with the creation of patient safety organizations (PSOs). Comments submitted today (PDF, 96KB) to the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) highlight the AMA’s strong support for the establishment of a federal framework that will allow health care professionals to voluntarily report patient safety information without fear of legal prosecution.

"The proposed rule strikes the appropriate balance between federal oversight and the creation of a voluntary reporting system, as the government will ensure the integrity of PSOs and allow for innovative initiatives to improve patient safety driven by health care professionals. To ensure success, the AMA will educate physicians on the reporting system, encourage their active participation and provide input on the system’s creation. As a leading advocate for passage of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, we applaud HHS and AHRQ for capturing the legislation’s intent in the proposed rule and look forward to working with them to improve health care safety for patients."

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For more information, please contact:

Katherine M. Hatwell
Senior Public Information Officer
AMA Media Relations
(202) 789-7419