House Approves Hospital Error Reporting Bill

State Representative Andrew Fleischmann (D-West Hartford) applauded the House for unanimously approving  H.B. 5715, An Act Creating a Program for Quality in Health Care, which included an amendment requiring hospitals to report any adverse event causing a patient harm, injury or death.  Fleischmann strongly advocates error reporting, and lauded the new house amendment that included reporting requirements he has been seeking.

"Connecticut has taken a critical step forward with House passage of this bill," Fleischmann said.  "I have heard from people who lost family members after routine medical procedures – and could not get basic information on what had happened. Neither hospitals nor the Department of Public Health would tell them what happened. The bill passed will change that. Mistakes will be reported to the Department of Public Health, and people will be able to learn what occurred."

The amendment requires the reporting of errors and any other adverse events that occur in hospitals to the Department of Public Health (DPH). If a hospital fails to report or fails to implement a plant to reduce the risk of future errors, it is subject to penalties. The reporting provisions would be effective on October 1 of this year – nine months earlier than the first offer made to Fleischmann.

There bill outlines four types of adverse events which hospitals would be required to report upon:

• An event that has resulted in or is associated with a patient's death or the immediate danger of death;
• An event that has resulted in or is associated with a patient's serious injury or disability or the immediate danger of serious injury or disability;
• An event that has resulted in or is associated with the physical or sexual abuse of a patient; and
• Any adverse events not included under items 1-3.

"The bill covers all of the errors that have come to light recently," Fleischmann said.  "It is critical that the Senate approve this language, so that mandatory reporting can go into effect this year."

Both the bill and the reporting amendment – House Amendment C - passed unanimously.