This article discusses recent funding the Authority received ($1.6 million) through a federal program called the Partnership for Patients. The Authority has partnered with the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) to take its wrong-site surgery, medication error and falls collaborations statewide. The article was published in the Philadephia Med City News April 30, 2012.

This article published in the Harrisburg Patriot News discusses the importance of the Authority's independence and possible consequences of a merger with the PA Department of Health to its patient safety educational programs. David Wenner wrote the article published Monday, April 2.

This Pittsburgh Post Gazette editorial published March 19 supports the Patient Safety Authority maintaining its independence.

This article discusses the Authority's independence and what a proposed merger with the Department of Health could mean for the agency. Tim Darragh wrote the article published March 13, 2012.

This article published in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette discusses the Authority's Independence and what a merger with the PA Department of Health could mean. Steve Twedt wrote the article published March 14, 2012.

This article and radio piece reiterates the importance of maintaining the Authority's independence in the best interest of improving patient safety. The piece aired March 12, 2012.

This article focuses on the Authority's efforts to maintain its independence through a resolution outlining the provisions in Act 13, 2002. The article was published in the Philadelphia Inquirer March 7, 2012.

Jeffrey C. Lerner, Ph.D, President and CEO, of ECRI Institute, wrote this opinion piece for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on why it is important for the Authority to maintain its independence. The opinion piece was published March 6, 2012.

This blog, written by Michael C. Cohen, RPh, MS,ScD, President and CEO of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and subcontractor for the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, gives reasons why maintaining the Authority's independence from the PA Department of Health is crucial for its success. The blog was published February 28, 2012.

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recently released an Advisory (December 2011) article giving nursing homes strategies on how they can reduce the risk of infection. This article, published in the long-term care business journal-- McKnight’s Long Term Care News—discusses some of these risk reduction strategies provided by the Patient Safety Authority’s senior infection prevention analyst.

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority published a Patient Safety Advisory article that showed patients with a language barrier may be at increased risk of a medical error. The Authority gave guidance to facilities on how they can minimize the risk and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette highlighted the data in this article.

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority clinical director Dr. John Clarke discusses the patient safety issues with anesthesiology and wrong-site surgery in the anesthesiology newsletter article.

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority released its December Patient Safety Advisory to help hospitals and nursing homes avoid or contain the norovirus. Tim Darragh of the Allentown Morning Call discusses the norovirus and the Authority's risk reduction strategies in this article.

The Authority's clinical director and editor of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority's Patient Safety Advisory, Dr. John Clarke, was interviewed recently by Hearst Newspapers for a story about medical errors and reporting systems. Of the 27 states that have reporting systems, the Authority ranks top among them for having the funding needed to analyze data and provide feedback to facilities which helps encourage reporting. The Authority has over 1.2 million events in its database, the second largest in the world with over 300 published academic articles based upon the data with strategies and guidance to help facilities improve patient safety.

The payouts for medical malpractice have dropped 61 percent in Pennsylvania since 2003. In March 2002, the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority was created through legislation along with the MCare Fund. The fund is used to help doctors pay for medical malpractice costs. The Authority is mentioned in this Williamsport Sun Gazette article as a reform measure to help lower malpractice costs.

In its 2010 June Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory, the Authority released information pertaining to healthcare providers and how their disruptive behavior can jeopardize patient safety. Harrisburg Patriot-News reporter, David Wenner, interviewed several local healthcare providers to discuss how disruptive behavior in healthcare facilities can harm patients. The story was picked up by the Associated Press and several media outlets.

This article published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer highlights surgical fires and reporting in Ohio. The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority is featured for its mandatory reporting program of Serious Events and Incidents for patient safety.

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority's executive director is quoted in this article that details Pennsylvania's infection reporting program and discusses the complexities of reporting infections accurately.

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recently reached a milestone in reporting. Over one million reports of serious events and incidents have been reported to the Authority. The Philadelphia Business Journal highlights the press release distributed that emphasizes the need for facilities to learn from the events and implement process changes. However, the number of events also reflects how far healthcare facilities have come in terms of reporting.

Hospitals in southeastern Pennsylvania are working together to prevent pressure ulcers (bed sores) in their facilities. This article from the Bucks County Courier Times shows what the hospitals are doing to improve patient safety in their facilities. The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority data is mentioned.

This editorial column by David Fallk examines the road taken by the healthcare industry since the 1999 IOM Report "To Err is Human" was released. In the report, it was shown that preventable medical errors were killing up to 98,000 Americans annually. Fallk points out that since 2002 medical malpractice lawsuits have declined 40 percent. The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority data is mentioned.

Pennsylvania nursing homes in the eastern part of the state began reporting healthcare-associated infections to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority for educational purposes and to the Pennsylvania Department of Health for regulatory purposes. This piece from WHYY radio discusses the issue with the Authority's executive director and others.

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority published an article in its Patient Safety Advisory on the success of St. Christopher's Hospital in Philadelphia with preventing ventilator-associated pnuemonia's (VAP) in the neonatal unit (NICU) of its facility. This article from the Philadelphia Public Health Examiner discusses the issue of VAP and newborns.

Wrong-site surgery continues to be a serious problem in many healthcare facilities which is the focus of this article from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Patient Safety Authority's Clinical Director, Dr. John Clarke, discusses the frequency of wrong-site surgeries in Pennsylvania and other states.

The Authority is mentioned in this article out of Wisconsin that discusses the risks associated with color-coded wristbands. The Authority near miss that began the nationwide discussion for color-coded wristband standardization is highlighted.

The Patient Safety Authority has educated the public about the importance of patients and their families participating in their healthcare. Pennsylvania's healthcare facilities also encourage their patients to ask questions. A recent study in Pennsylvania shows that consumers are participating more in their healthcare. This article in The Wall Street Journal discusses the issue with the Authority's clinical director.

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recently released an Advisory (December 2011) article giving nursing homes strategies on how they can reduce the risk of infection. This article, published in the long-term care business journal-- McKnight’s Long Term Care News—discusses some of these risk reduction strategies provided by the Patient Safety Authority’s senior infection prevention analyst.

Although rare, surgical fires remain a concern for healthcare providers working in operating rooms. Studies show in the United States about 650 surgical fires occur each year. The Wall Street Journal published an article about the risks of surgical fires and discusses the importance of prevention with the Patient Safety Authority's clinical director.

The Patient Safety Authority published data in its 2008 December Patient Safety Advisory that showed healthcare providers and patients may not understand the differences between a living will and a do-not-resuscitate order. A news article in The Intelligencer explained why it is important for patients to ensure their end-of-life wishes are understood by their family members and healthcare providers.

The Northeast Indiana Patient Safety Coalition credits the Authority for bringing the issue of the risks associated with color-coded wristbands to the national forefront.

The Authority is mentioned in this case out of California for its whistleblower protection established for physicians and other healthcare providers. The article is from American Medical News.