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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 7854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2913]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Delisting From Quality 
Excellence, Inc./PSO

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

ACTION: Notice of Delisting.

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SUMMARY: Quality Excellence Inc./PSO: AHRQ has accepted a notification 
of voluntary relinquishment from Quality Excellence Inc./PSO, a 
component entity of Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, 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 PSO 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 December 7, 2010.

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.gov.

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 CPDF 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 Quality Excellence Inc./PSO, a 
component entity of Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, PSO number 
P0037, to voluntarily relinquish its status as a PSO. Accordingly, 
Quality Excellence Inc./PSO, a component entity of Arkansas Foundation 
for Medical Care, was delisted effective at 12 Midnight ET (2400) on 
December 7, 2010. More information on PSOs can be obtained through 
AHRQ's PSO Web site at http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

    Dated: January 28, 2011.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-2913 Filed 2-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M
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