VITALE-SWEENEY-WEINBERG BILL TO PUBLICIZE HOSPITAL ERRORS SIGNED INTO LAW

PRINCETON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale, Loretta Weinberg, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which will require the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to publicly report certain preventable patient safety errors at New Jersey’s hospitals was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“Health care consumers have a right to know, particularly when it comes to the safety and quality of their health care experience,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the lead sponsor on the bill and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “This new law requires hospitals to report some basic information which will allow health care consumers to make informed choices regarding their care, and will prohibit hospitals from being paid for errors which should have never happened. Ultimately, fair market principles will help put pressure on underperforming hospitals to do better, and will put greater focus than ever before on patient safety in health care facilities across New Jersey.”

VITALE-SWEENEY-WEINBERG BILL TO PUBLICIZE HOSPITAL ERRORS RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale, Loretta Weinberg, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would require the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to publicly report certain preventable patient safety errors at New Jersey’s hospitals was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 39-0, receiving final legislative approval.

“The best thing New Jersey can do to improve the safety of health care in our State is to allow free-market principles and business competition to drive patient safety improvements,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “Health care consumers deserve to know how safe hospitals and other health care facilities are, and they deserve to be able to compare patient safety records at different facilities. By creating a more informed health care consumer, we’re putting the spotlight on health care facilities that aren’t living up to their patient safety responsibilities, and forcing them to do better in order to remain economically competitive.”

ALBANO/VAINIERI HUTTLE ANNOUNCE BILL PACKAGE TO BETTER PROTECT HOSPITAL PATIENTS

Three Bill Package Assembled in Wake of Corpus Christi Infant Overdose Would Help Prevent Misdosing, Mismedicating & Other Hospital Errors

(TRENTON) - Following the death of a second infant in a Corpus Christi, Texas hospital where at least 17 babies were given overdoses of the prescription blood thinner heparin, Assembly members Nelson T. Albano and Valerie Vainieri Huttle today announced they are working with their colleagues to assemble a package of legislation to prevent similar errors from occurring in New Jersey hospitals.