ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS PRAISE RELEASE OF LANDMARK HOSPITAL SAFETY REPORT

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS PRAISE RELEASE OF LANDMARK HOSPITAL SAFETY REPORT

Commend Governor for Posting 1st Report with Hospital-Specific Error Data

(TRENTON) – Assembly members Paul Moriarty, Linda Greenstein, Herb Conaway, Lou Greenwald and Nilsa Cruz-Perez today praised a new state report that for the first time details hospital-by-hospital medical errors. They urged New Jerseyans to use the report when making health care decisions.

The Assembly Democratic lawmakers were sponsors of the legislation (A-1264/3371/3633) requiring the annual report, which was released Wednesday by Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s administration. The Governor signed the bill into law earlier this year.

The report can be found at www.nj.gov/health/hpr.

For the first time, New Jersey residents can view details about individual hospital performance on patient safety measures and how hospitals treated heart attacks, heart failures, pneumonia and patients undergoing surgery.

“I urge every New Jerseyan to use this report when making health care decisions for themselves and their loved ones,” said Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden). “The goal here is to encourage hospitals to do even more to reduce errors and improve health care quality for everyone. Thanks to this report, consumers now have the information they need to make the right decisions about their health.”

“This report is giant step forward for New Jerseyans,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer). “Consumers have always been able to scour information on which is the best car or household appliance to buy, and now they can do the same when it comes to making the most important decisions of all – how best to care for their families.”

“The release of this report is further evidence that Gov. Corzine and legislative Democrats know what New Jersey families care about most,” said Greenwald (D-Camden). “Quality health care has long been a top priority for Gov. Corzine and the Democratic Legislature and this report will only encourage hospitals to continue emphasizing it year after year.”

"Gathering and analyzing data is the first step in developing system-wide processes to reduce errors as much as possible," said Conaway (D-Burlington/Camden). “Knowledge is key, and that’s what this report gives the public – knowledge about how each hospital is doing when it comes to patient safety. I laud the Governor for its release.”

“Excellent health care is a core value for New Jersey’s working families, and I hope they take advantage of this report to ensure they’re getting the best care available,” said Cruz-Perez (D-Camden). “I thank the Governor for releasing this report and I look forward to seeing it benefit New Jersey families through improved hospital safety.”

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