The “sole purpose” test has interfered with the application of PSQIA principles for well over a decade. It was born when some courts decided that the PSQIA could only protect information generated for the sole purpose of reporting it to a PSO. HHS then incorporated it into nonbinding “guidance” in 2016. This requirement is not in the statute or the rule, but it took on a life of its own, and PSOs have been fighting it in court ever since ..read more

The decision to participate in a national compare dataset can make anyone feel uneasy or uncertain about how their information will be used. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) first released the Survey on Patient Safety™ (SOPS™) for hospitals in 2004. Since that time, they have worked diligently to create additional surveys, each supported by a structured repository of survey results and extensive resources to improve patient safety culture. AHRQ’s data vendor, Westat, maintains the repository.  The Center for Patient Safety is a survey vendor for h ..read more

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In the past 18 months, the Center for Patient Safety PSO collected nearly 500 reports of unlabeled or mislabeled lab specimens from more than two dozen PSO participants. Research suggests more than 160,000 specimen-related adverse patient events occur annually, suggesting these remain largely underreported errors. Contributing factors include the sheer number of specimens collected and transported and the largely manual process of specimen collection.  While most reports to the CPS PSO did not reflect severe patient outcomes, we know these events can lead to confusion, errors, and delays ..read more

In an ever-evolving healthcare landscape, patient safety remains a top priority for healthcare organizations nationwide that strive for excellence in providing the best possible care. Healthcare watchdogs and accreditation groups have components that require organizations to address culture change, a recognized key driver of quality care; however, adherence to certain components can be difficult. The most common way to address culture change is to administer a safety culture survey, using the resulting data to measure current culture performance. Many organizations struggle to administer a cu ..read more

We are excited to announce a partnership between the Center for Patient Safety and Dr. Susan Scott to provide the Second Victim/Peer Support Train-the-Trainer program in an on-demand format. Together, we've expanded the resources and enhanced the original training while maintaining the most important aspects of the program.   Whether you are developing a new program from scratch, enhancing an existing program, or simply looking for a more effective way to train your peer supporters, this program is flexible and has the components you'll need. The program includes a unique set of tools ..read more