[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 7853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2917]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Delisting From Oregon 
Patient Safety Commission

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

ACTION: Notice of delisting.

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SUMMARY: Oregon Patient Safety Commission: AHRQ has accepted a 
notification of voluntary relinquishment from Oregon Patient Safety 
Commission 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 ongoingand 
reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The delisting was effective at 12 Midnight ET 
(2400) on November 22, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Both directories can be accessed electronically at 
thefollowing 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; ITY (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 Oregon Patient Safety Commission, PSO 
number P0018, to voluntarily relinquish its status as a PSO. 
Accordingly, Oregon Patient Safety Commission was delisted effective at 
12 Midnight ET (2400) on November 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. 2011-2917 Filed 2-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M