Are Hospitals Required to Report?
A hospital is not required to report but is encouraged to report adverse events occurring in an OBS setting, of which they become aware in their hospital. Hospitals are also encouraged to educate their staff about the adverse event reporting requirements. The law mandates physicians, physician assistants or specialist assistants as reporters, but a physician, physician assistant or specialist assistant may fulfill that requirement if the risk manager completes and the physicians, physician assistants or specialist assistants sign the report. The report must be sent to the Patient Safety Center. Sending the report to the New York Patient Occurrence Reporting and Tracking System (NYPORTS), the hospital adverse event reporting system, does not fulfill this requirement. Filing the adverse event form remains the personal responsibility of the mandated licensees.
