§299b–23 Network of Patient Safety Databases

Summary

The Secretary must set up and run a network of patient safety databases as an interactive, evidence-based tool for health care providers, patient safety organizations, and others. The network must accept, combine, and analyze de-identified patient safety reports that are voluntarily submitted. The Secretary must also check if one single access point for qualified researchers to see aggregated data is possible and create it if it is. The Secretary may make common report formats, required data elements, shared definitions, and a standard computer interface, and should try to match existing administrative rules when practical. The information will be used to track national and regional statistics, trends, and patterns of health care errors. The findings must be made public and included in annual quality reports.