This report originally appeared in the April 2010 issue of DOTmed Business News
A bill under consideration in the Connecticut State Legislature (Raised Bill No. 248) would mandate a hospital or outpatient surgical facility to report medical errors (adverse events) to the State Department of Public Health. The Department would also be required to report to the General Assembly on adverse events including identifying the facilities where the events occurred, and would conduct random audits of hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities.
The State Commissioner of Public Health would be required to create regulations including identifying what is an adverse event. A quality of care program to be established within the Department would develop: (1) a standardized data set to measure the clinical performance of health care facilities, (2) and methods to provide public accountability for health care delivery systems by such facilities, including patient satisfaction surveys; human resources and quality measurements; medical error reduction methods; and systems for continuum of care.
A facility's report on adverse events would need to include: (1) a written report with the status of any corrective steps submitted no later than seven days after an adverse event; and (2) a corrective action plan filed at least 30 days after the adverse event. If a medical facility did not comply with the law, the Commissioner would be authorized to impose penalties including revocation of a license or certificate, suspension of a license or certificate, censure of a licensee or certificate holder, letter of reprimand, placing licensee or certificate holder on probationary status, and a monetary penalty of up to ten thousand dollars for each violation.
