PSQIA: Ramifications for healthcare organizations

Quantros, a leading software and services provider for the healthcare industry, has published a whitepaper addressing the ramifications for healthcare organizations of The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (PSQIA), the legislation that authorized the creation of Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs).

Developed specifically for healthcare providers contemplating participation in a PSO, Patient Safety Organizations: What Every Provider Needs to Know offers an overview of the PSQIA, outlines the benefits and risks of participation and differentiates between protected and unprotected patient safety data. It also offers practical advice for designing a Patient Safety Evaluation System (PSES) that maximizes protection and affords the flexibility to comply with external reporting initiatives.

"Participation in a PSO benefits not only the individual organization but the entire healthcare industry," says Jenny Bell, Vice President, Professional Services at Quantros and a co-author of the report. "But there is still a lot of confusion around the federal legislation. Healthcare organizations are unsure of how this will affect regulatory and accreditation reporting and are concerned with liability. This whitepaper will help healthcare providers make an informed decision about whether participation is right for their organization."

The Quantros report documents the risks involved in submitting data to a PSO, including accidental disclosure, but offers guidance on mitigating them. A properly defined and documented PSES supported by clearly articulated data submission policy and procedures should enable providers to take advantage of the legal protections afforded by a PSO.

Bell adds, "Patient safety will always be our major -- our first -- priority. Giving healthcare providers access to information that they can use to improve quality of care and reduce patient safety events is part of our core mission."

To read the whitepaper, go to www.quantros.com/psowhitepaper12032009.html.