Public Meetings and Teleconferences on Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs)

Public Meetings and Teleconferences

When: March 8, 13, and 16, 2006, 12:30-3:30 pm EST
Where: Rockville, MD, and Washington, DC

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is considering how to implement the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-41). As indicated in the Federal Register notice, AHRQ invites the public to provide information that may assist the Agency, either in person or by telephone call-in, at three related public meetings. The input received at the public meetings will be most helpful in providing AHRQ with background information, fostering fact finding, and broadening awareness of issues raised by the legislation.

Meeting Dates and Locations

Wednesday, March 8, 2006
AHRQ Conference Center
540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850

Monday, March 13, 2006
AHRQ Conference Center
540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850

Thursday, March 16, 2006
Hilton Washington Embassy Row
2015 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036

Meeting Formats and Topics

Each meeting is scheduled for a 3-hour period starting at 12:30 p.m. EST; the meetings will end sooner if participants have finished providing input before the time period expires. We are asking for input concerning specific topics as follows:

• March 8, 2006: Provider-PSO relationships, contracts, and disclosures. Select for Topic Details.
• March 13, 2006: Operation of a Component PSO (a PSO that is part of another organization). Select for Topic Details.
• March 16, 2006: Security and confidentiality issues. Select for Topic Details.

We request that input regarding the specified topics be provided at the meeting scheduled for that topic. After those who wish to provide input on the specific topics have finished, participants will be welcome to provide input on other issues regarding the implementation of the Act.

The format for the meetings is intended to allow participants not only to provide input, but also to respond to the input provided by others. We especially request input from entities interested in becoming or creating PSOs and from providers interested in contracting with PSOs.

These meetings will be recorded and transcribed. All comments made during these meetings will be on the public record. To make a comment during these meetings (either in person or by phone), you must state your name and organization. Copies of the transcript will be available upon request.

Those wishing to share comments in writing may send them to PSImplment@ahrq.hhs.gov. These comments will be reviewed and treated in the same manner as oral presentations heard at the meetings.

Registration

AHRQ requests that interested persons register to participate in one or more meetings either in person or by telephone. Interested persons should register at least the day before a meeting in which they wish to participate. Non-registered individuals will be able to attend a meeting in person if space is available. However, a telephone hookup will not be available for those that do not register at least the day before the meeting.

Sign Language and Reasonable Accommodations

If sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations for a disability are needed, contact:

Donald L. Inniss
Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Program
Program Support Center
Telephone: (301) 443-1144

Join the PSO E-mail List

An E-mail notification list is being established to provide interested parties with automatic notification of relevant information posted on the AHRQ Web site (www.ahrq.gov) concerning the PSO program.

To be added to the E-mail notification list, send your E-mail address to: Eileen.Hogan@ahrq.hhs.gov and use the words "Add me to the list" in the subject line.

More Information

For information regarding the PSO meetings, contact:

Eileen Hogan
Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850
Telephone: (301) 427-1307
E-mail: Eileen.Hogan@ahrq.hhs.gov

Or

Carol A. Harris
Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: (301) 427-1327
E-mail: Carol.Harris@ahrq.hhs.gov

For information regarding registration and logistics for these meetings, contact:

Megan Griggs
5640 Nicholson Lane, #300
Rockville, MD 20850
Telephone: (301) 231-7537, ext. 260
E-mail: griggsm@cygnusc.com

Select to go to Public Law 109-41: Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005.

Current as of March 2006

Internet Citation:

Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs): Public Meetings and Teleconferences. March 2006. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/about/pso06.htm