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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 9351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3376]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Delisting From West 
Virginia Center for Patient Safety

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Delisting.

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SUMMARY West Virginia Center for Patient Safety: AHRQ has accepted a 
notification of voluntary relinquishment from West Virginia Center for 
Patient Safety, a component entity of West Virginia Hospital 
Association, West Virginia Medical Institute (WVMI), and West Virginia 
State Medical. Association (WVSMA), of its status as a Patient Safety 
Organization (PSO). The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 
2005 (Patient Safety Act), Public Law 109-41, 42 U.S.C. 299b-21-b-26, 
provides for the formation of PSOs, which collect, aggregate, and 
analyze confidential information regarding the quality and safety of 
health care delivery. The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Final 
Rule (Patient Safety Rule), 42 CFR Part 3, authorizes AHRQ, on behalf 
of the Secretary of HHS, to list as a P50 an entity that attests that 
it meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for listing. A P50 
can be ``delisted'' by the Secretary if it is found to no longer meet 
the requirements of the Patient Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule, 
including when a PSO chooses to voluntarily relinquish its status as a 
PSO for any reason.

DATES: The directories for both listed and delisted PSOs are ongoing 
and reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The delisting was effective at 12 Midnight 
ET (2400) on January 20, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Both directories can be accessed electronically at the 
following HHS Web site: http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Cousins, RPh., Center for 
Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, 
Rockville, MD 20850; Telephone (toll free): (866) 403-3697; Telephone 
(local): (301) 427-1111; TTY (toll free): (866) 438-7231; TTY (local): 
(301) 427-1130; E-mail: pso@AHRQ.hhs.Qov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Patient Safety Act authorizes the listing of PSOs, which are 
entities or component organizations whose mission and primary activity 
is to conduct activities to improve patient safety and the quality of 
health care delivery. HHS issued the Patient Safety Rule to implement 
the Patient Safety Act. AHRQ administers the provisions of the Patient 
Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule (PDF file, 450 KB. PDF Help) 
relating to the listing and operation of PSOs. Section 3.108(d) of the 
Patient Safety Rule requires AHRQ to provide public notice when it 
removes an organization from the list of federally approved PSOs.
    AHRQ has accepted a notification from the West Virginia Center for 
Patient Safety, a component entity of West Virginia Hospital 
Association, West Virginia Medical Institute (WVMI), and West Virginia 
State Medical Association (WVSMA), PSO number P0044, to voluntarily 
relinquish its status as a PSO. Accordingly, the West Virginia Center 
for Patient Safety, a component entity of West Virginia Hospital 
Association, West Virginia Medical Institute (WVMI), and West Virginia 
State Medical Association (WVSMA), was delisted effective at 12 
Midnight ET (2400) on January 20, 2011. More information on PSOs can be 
obtained through AHRQ's PSO Web site at http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

    Dated: February 4, 2011.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-3376 Filed 2-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M
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