Corbett’s budget will set back Pa.’s patient safety efforts
Earlier this month, Governor Tom Corbett submitted Pennsylvania’s 2012-2013 proposed budget. As expected, reductions in spending were suggested due to our slow economic recovery along with a worthy desire to maintain a balanced budget in our state. However, I believe the Governor’s proposed budget clearly misses the mark when it comes to public safety and welfare by proposing to merge the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority (PSA) with the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH).
For one, it will put a serious damper on the reporting of near misses and non-harmful medical errors — an incredibly rich and necessary source of information for learning how to keep patients safe.
It could also compromise the analysis of reports associated with specific types of medical error by ECRI and ISMP, which is necessary to identify the root causes of medical errors and the most effective error-reduction strategies.
And it could also diminish the spread of best practices that can be achieved through collaboration with the Authority and other experts in the field.