[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 7855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2910]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Delisting From Community 
Medical Foundation for Patient Safety

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Delisting.

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SUMMARY: Community Medical Foundation for Patient Safety: AHRQ has 
accepted a notification of voluntary relinquishment from Community 
Medical Foundation for Patient Safety, of its status as a Patient 
Safety Organization (PSO). The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement 
Act of 2005 (Patient Safety Act), Public Law 109-41,42 U.S.C. 299b-21--
b-26, provides for the formation of PSOs, which collect, aggregate, and 
analyze confidential information regarding the quality and safety of 
health care delivery. The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Final 
Rule (Patient Safety Rule), 42 CFR Part 3, authorizes AHRQ, on behalf 
of the Secretary of HHS, to list as a PSO an entity that attests that 
it meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for listing. A PSO 
can be ``delisted'' by the Secretary if it is found to no longer meet 
the requirements of the Patient Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule, 
including when a PSO chooses to voluntarily relinquish its status as a 
PSO for any reason.

DATES: The directories for both listed and delisted PSOs are ongoing 
and reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The delisting was effective at 12 Midnight 
ET (2400) on December 22, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Both directories can be accessed electronically at the 
following HHS Web site: http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Cousins, RPh., Center for 
Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, 
Rockville, MD 20850; Telephone (toll free): (866) 403-3697; Telephone 
(local): (301) 427-1111; TTY (toll free): (866) 438-7231; TTY (local): 
(301) 427-1130; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Patient Safety Act authorizes the listing of PSOs, which are 
entities or component organizations whose mission and primary activity 
is to conduct activities to improve patient safety and the quality of 
health care delivery. HHS issued the Patient Safety Rule to implement 
the Patient Safety Act. AHRQ administers the provisions of the Patient 
Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule (PDF file, 450 KB. PDF Help) 
relating to the listing and operation of PSOs. Section 3.108(d) of the 
Patient Safety Rule requires AHRQ to provide public notice when it 
removes an organization from the list of federally approved PSOs. AHRQ 
has accepted a notification from Community Medical Foundation for 
Patient Safety, PSO number P0029, to voluntarily relinquish its status 
as a PSO. Accordingly, Community Medical Foundation for Patient Safety 
was delisted effective at 12 Midnight ET (2400) on December 22, 2010.
    More information on PSOs can be obtained through AHRQ's PSO Web 
site at http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

    Dated: January 28, 2011.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-2910 Filed 2-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M