Wyoming Health Care Commission Patient Safety Task Force Meeting

Wyoming Health Care Commission Patient Safety Task Force Meeting

April 9, 2007

Come Inn, Casper, WY

2:30 pm

Task Force Members present:

Larry Kirven, M.D., Chairman; Jack Glode, M.D., Dixie Roberts, Susie Pouliot, Kim Cannon, J.D., Marcia Shanor, Rob Shively, J.D., Dan Perdue, Jerry Calkins, M.D.,

WHCC staff: Fran Cadez, J.D.

Also attending: Brent Sherard, M.D., Jan Bloom, Kris Urbanek

• Dr. Kirven welcomed all to the first Patient Safety Task Force meeting. This meeting was an orientation for those new to the previous work and discussion of the WHCC on these topics.

• Each task force member spoke about their interests in patient safety, medical errors and malpractice issues and why chose to participate in the task force.

• Discussion focused on two reports regarding medical errors and alternative compensation systems previously submitted to the WHCC: Medical Errors and Medical Injury Compensation, October 15, 2005 and Issues in Patient Safety, December 31, 2006.

• Fran Cadez provided background information regarding the second WHCC report on patient safety and medical errors. Dr. Kirven reviewed several of the recommendations approved by the WHCC regarding modifications to the Wyoming patient safety reporting statute.

• The task force discussed and agreed with the two recommendations approved by the WHCC, adopting: 1) the revised National Quality Forum’s List of Serious Reportable Events, and; 2) the National Quality Forum’s Patient Safety Taxonomy.

• Kim Cannon and Rob Shively discussed issues related to medical malpractice plaintiffs, particularly those who seek to bring a claim where negligence is not supported or the small value of the claim prohibits lengthy legal involvement. The group discussed whether these plaintiffs, who have experienced an adverse event, might be able to be compensated through an alternative remedy, such as an administrative compensation system or health court. Jack Glode briefly discussed enterprise liability concepts.

• The Wyoming Department of Health’s December, 2006 report regarding patient safety event reporting noted that only 19 licensed health care facilities reported 58 adverse health events. The task force discussed how to improve reporting compliance. Education, training, and providing incentives and feedback to reporting facilities were mentioned.

• The group generally discussed pilot projects to support reporting compliance and compensation for patients injured through adverse events.

Next Steps:

• The Task Force will meet at the next WHCC meeting on May 14, 2007 in Sheridan.

• Agenda topics will include review of the federal Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act.