[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 41963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18707]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Relinquishment From the 
Quantros Patient Safety Center

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

ACTION: Notice of delisting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: 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, 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 Quantros Patient 
Safety Center 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 applicable at 12:00 
Midnight ET (2400) on August 15, 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 and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, 42 U.S.C. 
299b-21 to b-26, (Patient Safety Act) and the related Patient Safety 
and Quality Improvement Final Rule, 42 CFR part 3 (Patient Safety 
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 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 Quantros Patient Safety 
Center, a component entity of Quantros Inc., PSO number P0014, to 
voluntarily relinquish its status as a PSO. Accordingly, the Quantros 
Patient Safety Center was delisted effective at 12:00 Midnight ET 
(2400) on August 15, 2017.
    The Quantros Patient Safety Center 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 and of section 3.108(c)(2)(ii) 
regarding disposition of PSWP consistent with section 3.108(b)(3). 
According to section 3.108(b)(3) of the Patient Safety Rule, 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,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2017-18707 Filed 9-1-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P