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State error-reporting laws pave the way for a national effort

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 30, 2004

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While the federal government has been unsuccessful for several years in passing patient safety legislation, many states have taken the matter into their own hands, according to "Patient safety laboratories: States pave the way for a national effort," an article published by American Medical News. The 20 states that have established medical error reporting laws have helped in the effort to make patient safety a collaborative effort between doctors and patients, notes the article.

"What's really exciting is that we have patient advocacy groups who are training patients themselves how to be more responsible for their own safety," said Matthew Rice, MD, chief medical officer at Northwest Emergency Physicians in Federal Way, WA, and a board member of the National Patient Safety Foundation.

The discussion will move increasingly into the national arena, according to the article. And while state laws require reporting mistakes that lead to serious injury or death, the proposed federal requirements include reporting errors that don't lead to harm, or "near misses."

To read the full article on American Medical News, click here.

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