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Patient Safety: Instilling Hospitals with a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

Location: Room 342, Dirksen Senate Office Building



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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

Panel 2

  • Dr.  James P. Bagian
    Director
    National Center for Patient Safety, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
    Download Testimony (108k)
  • Dr.  Dennis S. O'Leary
    President
    Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations
    Download Testimony (340k)
  • Dr.  Carolyn M. Clancy
    Director
    Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    Download Testimony (229k)

Panel 3