Patient Safety Report December 31, 2002 The Honorable Robert Bunda Senate President State Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Senator Bunda: I am pleased to submit to the Legislature the enclosed report from the Patient Safety Task Force (PSTF) of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii. This is in response to H.C.R. 190 (2002), which requests the task force to report on its efforts to reduce medical errors. Health care providers across the country have focused on the issue of medical errors since the Institute of Medicine issued its landmark report in 1999. The PSTF has reviewed current research on the subject and examined structures established in other states to improve patient safety so that it could determine the most appropriate arrangement for Hawaii. Recognizing that systems change is needed, the major recommendation of the PSTF is to create a voluntary error reporting program, which would be added to the Hawaii Health Information Corporation (HHIC), a private nonprofit organization. HHIC would analyze these reports and recommend changes in policies and procedures to the reporting organizations and issue safety alerts to all health care organizations. Funding for this new function would be from private sources. The PSTF intends to develop this new error reporting system in the coming year, along with expanding its efforts to educate providers in reducing medical errors, and informing health care consumers about their role in this area. I hope that the Legislature will agree with this approach to improving patient safety. If you or any of your members have any questions, please contact me at 521-8961. With warmest personal regards and Aloha, RICHARD E. MEIERS President and CEO See Report (You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free to view this report.) Working together for the health of Hawaii's people since 1939. Home | Acute Care | Long Term Care | Legislative Watch | Members | Emergency Management About HAH | Programs & Publications | News | Calendar | Patient Safety Contact us