Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 7–Committee on
Health and Human Services

 

(On Behalf of Interim Committee on Health Care)

 

February 27, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

 

SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Committee on Health Care to conduct interim study concerning development of system for reporting medical errors. (BDR R‑226)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

ASSEMBLY Concurrent RESOLUTION—Directing the Legislative Committee on Health Care to conduct an interim study concerning the development of a system for reporting medical errors.

 

1-1    Whereas, At least 44,000 persons die each year in hospitals in the

1-2  United States from preventable medical errors, making preventable

1-3  medical errors a leading cause of death in this country, exceeding the

1-4  number of deaths attributable to motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer or

1-5  AIDS; and

1-6    Whereas, In addition to the unfortunate consequences suffered by

1-7  many patients and families as a result of preventable medical errors, the

1-8  direct and indirect costs borne by the nation as a result of preventable

1-9  medical errors, including, without limitation, higher expenditures for health

1-10  care, lost productivity, costs related to disabilities and costs for personal

1-11  care, are approximately $17 billion annually; and

1-12    Whereas, Establishing a reporting system for medical errors is an

1-13  effective way to improve the safety of patients in this state and reduce the

1-14  number of preventable medical errors that occur in this state by gathering

1-15  sufficient information about medical errors from multiple sources to

1-16  attempt to understand the factors that contribute to the errors and then

1-17  using this information to prevent the recurrence of such errors throughout

1-18  the health care system; now, therefore, be it

1-19    Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

1-20  Concurring, That the Legislative Committee on Health Care is hereby

1-21  directed to appoint a subcommittee to conduct an interim study concerning

1-22  the development of a system for reporting medical errors in this state; and

1-23  be it further

 

2-1    Resolved, That the study must include, without limitation:

2-2    1.  A determination of what constitutes:

2-3    (a) A medical error;

2-4    (b) An outcome that is detrimental to a patient; and

2-5    (c) A medical error that causes an outcome which is detrimental to a

2-6  patient.

2-7    2.  A comprehensive evaluation of:

2-8    (a) Systems for reporting medical errors that are designed to:

2-9       (1) Inform patients of the occurrence of medical errors that cause

2-10  outcomes which are detrimental to patients;

2-11      (2) Ensure that preventable medical errors are not systematically

2-12  repeated; and

2-13      (3) Encourage medical institutions to improve the safety of their

2-14  patients;

2-15    (b) Whether such a system should be established in this state;

2-16    (c) Effective manners in which the system may impose mandatory

2-17  reporting of medical errors;

2-18    (d) Methods for ensuring that information reported to the system

2-19  concerning the identity of a specific patient or medical professional

2-20  remains confidential to encourage the reporting of medical errors and to

2-21  ensure that the system does not encourage blaming an individual medical

2-22  professional for a medical error;

2-23    (e) The proper use of the information that is reported to the system,

2-24  including, without limitation, whether standards should be established for

2-25  using the information to prevent or reduce preventable medical errors;

2-26    (f) Which medical and other related facilities, medical professionals and

2-27  pharmacies should be required to report information concerning medical

2-28  errors to the system;

2-29    (g) Whether sanctions should be imposed on a medical professional

2-30  who fails to comply with the reporting requirements of the system; and

2-31    (h) The relationship between medical errors and the licensing of

2-32  medical professionals, and the manner in which the system may be

2-33  coordinated with the licensing of medical professionals to reduce medical

2-34  errors.

2-35    3.  The use of the report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health

2-36  System that was released by the Institute of Medicine in November, 1999;

2-37  and be it further

2-38    Resolved, That no action may be taken by the subcommittee on

2-39  recommended legislation unless it receives a majority vote of the Senators

2-40  on the subcommittee and a majority vote of the Assemblymen on the

2-41  subcommittee; and be in further

2-42    Resolved, That the Legislative Committee on Health Care shall submit

2-43  a report of the results of the study and any recommendations for legislation

2-44  to the 72nd session of the Nevada Legislature.

 

2-45  H