Bipartisan Policy Center Develops Patient Safety Framework

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) has released recommendations for an oversight framework to ensure patient safety remains top of mind as health IT adoption efforts become more pervasive.

As part of its Health Innovative Initiative, BPC tapped key stakeholders to develop guidelines for protecting patients while promoting innovation and leveraging existing quality and reporting systems for maximum benefit. The BPC’s recommendations include widespread agreement on recognized standards and guidelines for the use of health IT; training, education, and technical assistance to support these guidelines; patient participation in safety activities; and the continued monitoring and evaluation of patient safety trends for the ongoing education of healthcare professionals.

“Through the BPC Health Innovation Initiative, we plan to continue the dialogue on the principles, policies, and strategies that should be adopted to promote the use of health IT to improve patient safety, while assuring safety in the development, implementation, and use of health IT,” the report states.

Among the stakeholders serving on BPC’s Delivery System Reform and Health IT Task Force are Senator Tom Daschle; Russ Branzell, CEO of Colorado Health Medical Group; John Glaser, CEO of Siemens Health Services; and Farzad Mostashari, M.D., National Coordinator for Health IT, ONC.

According to BPC, the report reflects key elements found in HHS’ current proposed approach, outlined in the Health IT Patient Safety Action and Surveillance Plan for Public Comment. “Because assurance of safety in health IT is a shared responsibility that is dependent on how it is developed, implemented, and used, standards and guidelines for assuring patient safety should focus on harmonized processes across the health IT life cycle,” the it states. “Developers, implementers, users, and patients, along with patient safety and health IT experts and government, should both inform and play a significant role in the development and continued evolution of such standards and guidelines.”