The Department of Health and Senior Services is proposing new rules at N.J.A.C. 8:43E-10 and amendments throughout N.J.A.C. 8:43E, General Licensure Procedures and Standards Applicable to All Licensed Facilities, to implement the “Patient Safety Act” (Act).

The Act directs Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services (Department) to promulgate rules to establish a mandatory, confidential system for reporting serious preventable adverse events that occur in all licensed health care facilities in the State, and in psychiatric hospitals operated by the Department of Human Services.  The proposed new rules will also set forth requirements for the creation of a patient or resident safety committee and a patient or resident safety plan by the licensed health care facility.

The Department developed the proposed new rules relying upon standards issued by The National Forum for Health Care Quality Measurement and Reporting (NQF).

The Department is also proposing amendments and repeals throughout the facility-specific licensure chapters of the Administrative Code to eliminate provisions that address patient safety reporting and related obligations, to avoid their potential redundancy of or inconsistency with the proposed new rules at N.J.A.C. 8:43E-10.  The proposed amendments affect N.J.A.C. 8:36-5.10; 8:39-9.4; 8:42-3.8; 8:42C-3.8; 8:43-4.9, 8:43A-3.8; 8:43D-4.7; 8:43E-3.4; and 8:43G-6.10.  The proposed repeals are at 8:43G-5.6 and 8:43H-3.8.

The notice of proposal appears in the February 5, 2007 issue of the New Jersey Register.  The public has until April 6, 2007 to comment on the notice of proposal.  Persons wishing to comment on the proposal must submit their comments in writing to Paula Howard, Regulatory Officer, Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing, Senior Services and Health Systems Branch, NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, P O Box 367, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360.  Written comments must be postmarked on or before April 7, 2007, which is the close of the 60-day public comment period.

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