UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL VOLUNTARILY WORKS WITH NEW STATE PROGRAM

Harrisburg, Nov. 18, 2003 – State Sen. Connie Williams applauded the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for volunteering to be part of the first statewide medical error reporting system.

The hospital is one of 22 health-care facilities that volunteered to participate in the first phase of the Pennsylvania Safety Reporting System, initiated by the Patient Safety Authority.

“By offering to be part of the voluntary phase of this new patient safety initiative, the hospital is taking a strong stance for patient safety and a reduction in medical errors,” Williams said.

The Patient Safety Authority is an independent state agency created by Act 13 of 2002, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, to help reduce and eliminate medical errors by identifying problems and recommending solutions that promote patient safety. Under the act, all Pennsylvania-licensed hospitals, birthing centers and ambulatory facilities are required to report serious events and incidents to the authority.

While the current involvement is voluntary, the program will be rolled out statewide early next year. The facilities that participate in the first phase will provide feedback to help improve the program before its statewide roll out.

Williams continues to look for ways to reduce medical errors and address the medical malpractice issue before the state. She is prime sponsor of legislation (S.B. 862) that would alter the standard used by courts when considering a Motion of Remittitur in medical malpractice cases. Remittitur is the process by which a court reduces or proposes to reduce the damages awarded in a jury verdict. Williams’ legislation would alter the standard by asking the court to consider “whether the award deviates materially from what would be considered reasonable compensation.” A variety of considerations, such as age, severity of the injury and impairment must be considered.