This bill creates a new National Patient Safety Board within the Department of Health and Human Services to prevent and reduce patient safety events like medical errors and hospital-acquired infections. The independent board will be staffed by five presidential appointees, including at least three experts in patient safety and at least two individuals who have personally experienced a patient safety event or have affected family members. The board will analyze patient safety data from hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care settings to identify patterns and hazards, conduct studies into causes of adverse events, and recommend solutions to prevent future incidents. Reports will be made publicly available within one year and the board must submit annual progress reports to Congress. The legislation includes protections for health care workers who cooperate with the board and prevents board findings from being used as evidence in lawsuits or to discipline individual providers, though the information can inform broader standards of care.
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