The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality provides clarity about PSOs and the Patient Safety Rule, but is it sufficient?
The success of Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) has varied widely since the passage of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (PSQIA)i. States continue to debate the level of protection that should be applied to health and medical error information as well as data collected from healthcare organizations operational practices. Many organizations are reluctant to share patient safety data fearing once shared the data will lose any protection it may have otherwise had. The multiple terms and definitions present within the PSQIA only add to the confusion leaving many organizations unsure about the definition of patient safety work product (PSWP), the protections offered through the use of a PSO, and how to participate in or operate a PSO to maximize benefits and reduce potential risks.
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