Resources

PSO Industry Best Practice Definitions

Several widely used terms in the PSO community are not defined in the Patient Safety Act or in the AHRQ Regulations.  AHRQ's Final rulemaking encourages the PSO community to develop and share with others PSOs "best practices" for the confidentiality of patient safety work product (76 Fed. Reg. at 70789.).  AQIPS PSO Best Practice Committee has developed the industry best practice definition for "Patient Safety or Quality Related Event", which defines what information can be confidential and privileged.

Patient Safety or Quality Related Event means an event that occurred - or is identified as a potential hazard or risk - during the delivery of a health care service or simulation of care or environment in which care is provided that harmed, or could have resulted in harm, to a patient, healthcare provider or visitor, whether or not a patient, healthcare provider or visitor is physically present.  The term also encompasses an error of omission or commission, mistake, or malfunction in a patient care process, including those related to professional behavior.  It may also involve an input to such process (such as a drug or device) or the environment in which such process occurs.  Patient Safety or Quality Related Events include near miss events and events that result because of systems or workflow failures.  The concept of Patient Safety or Quality Related Event is applicable in any setting in which health care is delivered.  A health care facility that is mobile (e.g., ambulance), fixed and free-standing (e.g., hospital), attached to another entity, as well as the patient's home or workplace.

Peer Review means any review of clinical care, quality of care, professional performance or professional behavior and includes any activity that involves case evaluation by a Physician or APP to measure, assess, and improve professional practice and the quality of patient care. The results of Peer Review activities are used to identify opportunities that include but are not limited to improving patient care, improving clinical judgment, technical skill, providing information related to clinical competency, and determination for reappointment.

AQIPS Policy and Procedure Templates

AQIPS Policies and Procedures, contract templates, and implementation tools created by the AQIPS Compliance and Innovation Center allow your organization to quickly become compliant with the regulatory requirements.  Choose from the following packages:

  • Patient Safety Organization (PSO) Policy and Procedure, Contract and Implementation Templates
  • HIT Developers Package
  • Provider Patient Safety Evaluation System (PSES) Templates and Tools
  • Custom Policies and Procedures

Patient Safety Organization (PSO) Policy and Procedure, Contract and Implementation Templates

The Patient Safety Act requires a PSO to have policies and procedures and also additional policies and procedures for a component.   Contracts are required and are necessary to create a legally robust system.  

The templates also contain optional provisions to ensure compliance with Stark, Corporate Practice of Medicine laws, False Claims Act and other federal and state laws.  AHRQ - the oversight agency for PSOs - has reviewed the policies and procedures and contract templates for compliance with the Patient Safety Act.  The AQIPS policy and procedure and contract templates and implementation tools provide an easy way to implement legally robust patient safety evaluation system for your PSO or your PSES.  

Our content is comprehensive and provides a step-by-step roadmap for implementation.  AQIPS has made implementation easy by avoiding unnecessary documentation.  Choose from more than 20 prewritten policies, procedures and modifiable template contracts, including:

  • Policies and Procedures template for a PSO
  • Policies and Procedures template for a component PSO
  • Policies and Procedures for conducting Root Cause Analysis (for programs such as high reliability systems, centralized peer review or procedure variance [medical necessity audit] and RCA systems analysis)
  • PSO Inventory of Patient Safety Activities
  • Participation and Confidentiality Agreement
  • Analytical Contractor Agreement
  • Shared Staff and other services for Component PSO
  • Clinical or Qualified Expert Agreements
  • SafeTable/convening Policies and Procedures/Agreements
  • Patient Safety Act Training Modules
  • Confidentiality Training Modules
  • PSES Templates and Tools (see below)
  • Other programatic contracts

The package is comprehensive and tailored to protect and enhance your patient safety activities.  To review the license agreement  click here.  Contact AQIPS to order your template package designed for your program click here.

Costs:

Members:  $10,000
Nonmembers:  $30,000

Health IT Developers 

Health IT Developer Patient Safety Evaluation System (PSES) templates include the policies, procedures and contracts needed by HIT Developers to secure their patient safety work product and patient safety evaluation system.  The HIT Developer PSES also includes policies and procedures to permit HIT developers to work with providers to improve HIT and patient care through HIT.

  • Policies and Procedure templates for a  Health IT Developer PSES
  • Policies and Procedures templates for conducting investigations and Root Cause Analysis to protect peer review in the analysis and deliberations pathway
  • PSES Inventory of Patient Safety Activities
  • Analytical Contractor Agreement
  • Clinical or Qualified Expert Agreements
  • SafeTable/convening Policies and Procedures/Agreements
  • Patient Safety Act Training Modules
  • Confidentiality Training Modules
  • PSES Checklist

To review the license agreement click here.  Contact AQIPS to order your template package designed for your program click here.

Costs:

Members:  FREE with Membership
Nonmembers:  $5,000

 

Patient Safety Evaluation System (PSES) Tool Kit.   

 

AQIPS PSES tool kit includes templates and training materials to make the implementation of your PSES and meeting your quality improvement goals effective and easy.  Proper documentation through legally robust policies and procedures and contracts can improve efficiency and reduce the risk of litigation.  PSQIA cases show that a robust PSES can assist in proving and protecting patient safety work product.  The package is comprehensive and tailored to protect and enhance your patient safety activities.  The PSES tool kit includes:

  • Policies and Procedure templates for a provider PSES
  • Policies and Procedures templates for conducting investigations and Root Cause Analysis to protect peer review in the analysis and deliberations pathway
  • PSES Inventory of Patient Safety Activities
  • Analytical Contractor Agreement
  • Clinical or Qualified Expert Agreements
  • SafeTable/convening Policies and Procedures/Agreements
  • Patient Safety Act Training Modules
  • Confidentiality Training Modules
  • PSES Checklist

Now you can create a personalized Policy and Procedure manual that documents your patient safety work product, helps you comply with legal requirements, clarifies your expectations and reduces new-hire orientation and training time.  To review the license agreement click here.  Contact AQIPS to order your template package designed for your program click here.

Costs:

Members:  FREE with membership
Nonmembers:  $5,000

Custom Policies and Procedures

AQIPS will work with providers and Heath IT Developers to design custom policies and procedures for its patient safety activities. Contact AQIPS to discuss your program needs.