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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 11120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4265]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Relinquishment From UAB 
Health System Patient Safety Organization

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

ACTION: Notice of Delisting.

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SUMMARY: AHRQ has accepted a notification of voluntary relinquishment 
from the UAB Health System Patient Safety Organization 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 PSO 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 12:00 
Midnight ET (2400) on January 13, 2012.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Grinder, 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; 
Email: 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 (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 UAB Health System Patient Safety 
Organization, PSO number P0042, which is a component entity of the UAB 
Health System to voluntarily relinquish its status as a PSO. 
Accordingly, the UAB Health System Patient Safety Organization was 
delisted effective at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) on January 13, 2012.
    More information on PSOs can be obtained through AHRQ's PSO Web 
site at http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

    Dated: February 15, 2012.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-4265 Filed 2-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M
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