Open Letters from Accrediting Bodies

AHRQ's rulemaking provides that hospitals may share protected RCAs and other patient safety work product with an accrediting body to work in a confidential safety culture to improve the quality of the processes and patient care. (42 CFR 3.206(b)(8)). The accrediting body must keep the Patient Safety Work Product (PSWP) privileged and confidential.   Several accrediting bodies have provided AQIPS and their accredited providers a "Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Statement" pledging to honor the privilege and confidentiality protections of the Patient Safety Act.  Many providers who have worked with the accrediting bodies in a confidential safety culture have stated that it is great program and that they have improved their processes as a result of this relationship.  We recommend as a best practice that the surveyor sign the accrediting body statement to document the disclosure of the PSWP, but it is not required under the law.  

The Joint Commission's Patient Safety Letter can be found here.

URAC Open Letter to Providers Participating in a PSO can be found here.

HFAC Letter to Providers participating in a PSO can be found here.