Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

Patient Safety: Instilling Hospitals with a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Date: June 11, 2003
Time: 9:00am
Location: Room 342, Dirksen Senate Office Building
Agenda:

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing entitled “Patient Safety: Instilling Hospitals With a Culture of Continuous Improvement.”  Studies have shown that human error imposes large costs on the health care industry in terms of higher fees and reduced patient care.  In some cases the lack of or failure to follow safety procedures has produced tragic consequences.  Over the past decade, better management practices have helped American manufacturers make great strides in simultaneously reducing cost and increasing quality.  Many of these same practices can be adopted by the health care industry to improve outcomes and reduce costs.  Such increases in productivity will become necessary if health care is to remain affordable for the average American.  The Subcommittee hearing focused on the progress that has already been made in this area as well as the obstacles that remain.

Witnesses

Panel 1

Roxanne

Goeltz

Panel 2

Dr.

James P.

Bagian

Director

National Center for Patient Safety, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Panel 2

Dr.

Dennis S.

O'Leary

President

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations

Panel 2

Dr.

Carolyn M.

Clancy

Director

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Panel 3

David R.

Page

President & Chief Executive Officer

Fairview Health Services

Panel 3

Robert E.

Krawisz

Executive Director

National Patient Safety Foundation

Panel 3

Dianne

Mandernach

Commissioner

Minnesota Department of Health

Panel 3

Dr.

Suzanne

Delbanco

Executive Director

The Leapfrog Group

Related Links

Printed Hearing Record