KENNEDY ON HHS CREATION OF PATIENT SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS
WASHINGTON, DC— Yesterday, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to the new regulation proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services, which establishes Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs).
"Three long years after Congress passed legislation requiring it, the Bush Administration finally as issued plans to meet the urgent need of improving health care quality and patient safety. American patients deserve a safe, high quality health care system. Congress took a major step toward this goal by enacting the bipartisan Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act in 2005. With today’s action, the legislation will at last be able to realize its potential of improving health care for all Americans by allowing health care professionals to confidentially report errors, near misses and safety risks in health care. I look forward to seeing that this legislation is implemented effectively."
