[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 86 (Friday, May 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21232-21233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09091]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Relinquishment From the 
Empire State Patient Safety Assurance Network PSO

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of delisting.

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SUMMARY: The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, 
(Patient Safety Act) and the related Patient Safety and Quality 
Improvement Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on November 
21, 2008, 73 FR 70732-70814, establish a framework by which hospitals, 
doctors, and other health care providers may voluntarily report 
information to Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs), on a privileged and 
confidential basis, for the aggregation and analysis of patient safety 
events. The Patient Safety Rule 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,

[[Page 21233]]

when a PSO chooses to voluntarily relinquish its status as a PSO for 
any reason, or when a PSO's listing expires. AHRQ has accepted a 
notification of voluntary relinquishment from the Empire State Patient 
Safety Assurance Network PSO of its status as a PSO, and has delisted 
the PSO accordingly.

DATES: The directories for both listed and delisted PSOs are ongoing 
and reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The delisting was effective at 12:00 
Midnight ET (2400) on March 30, 2017.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eileen Hogan, Center for Quality 
Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 06N94B, 
Rockville, MD 20857; Telephone (toll free): (866) 403-3697; Telephone 
(local): (301) 427-1111; TTY (toll free): (866) 438-7231; TTY (local): 
(301) 427-1130; Email: [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 
are 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 relating to the listing and operation of PSOs. The 
Patient Safety Rule authorizes AHRQ to list as a PSO an entity that 
attests that it meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for 
listing. A PSO can be ``delisted'' if it is found to no longer meet the 
requirements of the Patient Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule, when a 
PSO chooses to voluntarily relinquish its status as a PSO for any 
reason, or when a PSO's listing expires. 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 the Empire State Patient 
Safety Assurance Network, PSO, a component entity of the University of 
Buffalo, PSO number P0048, to voluntarily relinquish its status as a 
PSO. Accordingly, the Empire State Patient Safety Assurance Network, 
PSO was delisted effective at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) on March 30, 
2017.
    Empire State Patient Safety Assurance Network, PSO has patient 
safety work product (PSWP) in its possession. The PSO will meet the 
requirements of Section 3.108(c)(2)(i) of the Patient Safety Rule 
regarding notification to providers that have reported to the PSO. In 
addition, according to Sections 3.108(c)(2)(ii) and 3.108(b)(3) of the 
Patient Safety Rule regarding disposition of PSWP, the PSO has 90 days 
from the effective date of delisting and revocation to complete the 
disposition of PSWP that is currently in the PSO's possession.
    More information on PSOs can be obtained through AHRQ's PSO Web 
site at http://www.pso.ahrq.gov.

Sharon B. Arnold,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 2017-09091 Filed 5-4-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P