Drug Topics - April 14, 2008 - (Page HSE10)

10 HSE DRUG TOPICS APRIL 14, 2008 www.drugtopics.com > > > Professional Practice Patient safety organizations still very much in planning stage Martin Sipkoff T o improve patient safety, the federal government is creating independent reporting agencies that will collect and disseminate data about medical errors, including medication errors, while protecting the privacy and potential liability of the professionals reporting them. Named patient safety organizations (PSOs), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is seeking comments on proposed rules for their implementation, which is anticipated sometime early next year. “I have promised the Secretary (of Health & Human Services) to move very quickly on this,” said Carolyn Clancy, M.D., AHRQ director, in a recent audio conference call, “and that’s what we intend to do.” Proposed rules have been published in the February 12 Federal Register and AHRQ is seeking public comment. “What Congress is seeking is to create federal-level agencies guaranteeing that what you say cannot be used against you,” said Kasey Thompson, Pharm.D., director of practice standards and quality for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. “It remains unclear exactly how that will be done.” these bodies. Existing organizations that collect safety data are eligible. Hospitals can create own PSOs “What the PSOs offer is stability on the issue of confidentiality,” said Thompson. “They codify that people reporting information to these agencies are protected from liability on the act of reporting.” Health systems also can create their Many details on patient own PSOs, or can participate with other safety organizations are still unavailable, says entities in creating a PSO. It’s unclear at ASHP’s Kasey Thompson. this point whether there will be many hospitals interested in setting up their own PSOs. No federal funds are available for creating the entities. The PSOs must be designed not to conflict with any existing state agencies, and medical records used in the collection and dissemination of safety data will be protected under current privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Beyond these basic specifics, how PSOs will function—their governance, reporting obligations and standards, regulatory limitations, and their liability (if any)—remains unclear. When questioned about Goal of PSOs what healthcare organizations can The design and scope of the PSOs are do at this point to ready themselves indeed in flux, but their purpose is to deal with PSOs, Clancy replied, clear: They are mandated under the “Nothing at this point, not until the Patient Safety and Quality Improverules have been finalized.” ment Act of 2005 to look for trends and feed patient safety data back to the healthcare community. Under Need your comments that law, public and private entities, for-profit or non- AHRQ is currently seeking public comment on the profit, can seek listing with AHRQ as a PSO. NPRM until April 14. Information on how to comThe law prohibits insurers from becoming PSOs, ment on the NPRM, the goals of the legislation, an however, and the current Notice of Proposed Rule- audio transcript, the rulemaking process, and answers making (NPRM) prohibits public and private enti- to frequently asked questions, can be accessed at ties with regulatory authority over providers, such as www.pso.ahrq.gov. accreditation and licensure bodies, from becoming is a writer based in Gettysburg, Pa. “We encourage pharmacists to participate in this process,” said Thompson. “It is possible that valuable information on best practices could come out of all this.” http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.pso.ahrq.gov

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - April 14, 2008

Drug Topics - March 14, 2008 Contents Latebreakers Letters: Students Need Grounding in Chemistry Pharmacy Directors Wary of Heparin Shortages Some E-prescribing Standards are Ready to Go, Others are Not News Briefs Nanotechnology: Big Stakes in a Small World Pay for Performance is Coming to Pharmacy Patient Safety Organizations Still Very Much in Planning Stage Reconciling Medications in Specialty Patients Poses More Challenges Pharmacy Outsourcing Still Much in Use by Hospitals Studied Extensively, New Drug-Eluting Stent Said to be Very Safe Prevention is Key in Treating C. Difficile Infections E-prescribing Grows in Massachusetts, but Other States Lag Behind Active Metabolite Gives New Life to Antidepressant NSAIDS not Recommended for Long-term Use in Osteoarthritis This Time R.Ph.s and States Are Ready for Tamper-Resistant Rx Pads Cardinal Caught Between DEA and Pharmacies over Diversion Control Medicating Kids: Still More Questions than Answers Schnucks Pharmacy: Drug Topics' Chain of the Year Panel Will Ask for a System for R.Ph. Practice Across State Lines FDA Safety Page: How to use Fentora Safely The Shining OTC/HBC Stars of 2007 Take a Look at These OTCs for Eye Health Technology Update: Google Offers a Sneak Peak at its Electronic Records Initiative Recent Advancements in HIV/AIDS Treatment New Products Advertisers Index Classified Viewpoint: Are State Boards of Pharmacy Abusing Their Power?

Drug Topics - April 14, 2008

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