Patient Safety Organizations Program
Purpose
Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) conduct activities to improve the safety and quality of patient care. PSOs create a legally secure environment (conferring privilege and confidentiality) where clinicians and healthcare organizations can voluntarily report, aggregate, and analyze data, with the goal of reducing the risks and hazards associated with patient care. The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (Patient Safety Act) authorized the creation of PSOs and the development of Common Formats for uniform reporting of patient safety events.
Go to the AHRQ PSO website.
Benefits
PSOs serve as independent, external experts who can assist providers in the collection, analysis, and aggregation of patient safety events to develop insights into effective methods to improve quality and safety. Providers who establish relationships with a PSO receive uniform Federal protections (conferring privilege and confidentiality) that are expected to remove fear of legal liability or professional sanctions.
Services
AHRQ provides the following services and/or resources:
- A directory of current and previously listed PSOs.
- A website featuring a host of resources regarding PSOs.
- Information about and access to Common Formats (uniform definitions and reporting formats for collecting information about adverse events).
- Ongoing technical assistance regarding topics such as establishing a patient safety evaluation system, working with a PSO, and guides to help providers and others better understand the Patient Safety Act and Rule.
- Other resources include:
Interested Parties
Those who may be interested in learning more about PSOs include healthcare professionals and providers who work directly with a PSO as well as policymakers and researchers.
Settings of Care
PSOs can be involved in any healthcare setting where licensed professionals deliver healthcare.
Participating Agencies and Institutions
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights is responsible for the confidentiality protections of the Patient Safety Act. Select for information on how to file a patient safety confidentiality complaint.
AHRQ convenes the Federal interagency Patient Safety Workgroup (PSWG) to assist with developing and maintaining the Common Formats. The PSWG currently includes:
- Major health agencies within HHS.
- Department of Defense (Health Affairs).
- Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Health Administration).
Through a contract with AHRQ, the PSO Privacy and Protection Center (PSO PPC) solicits feedback on each version of the Common Formats from the public and then convenes an expert panel to review the comments and provide feedback. Based upon the expert panel's feedback, AHRQ may further revise and finalize the Common Formats.
Go to the AHRQ PSO website.
