Fear of Discovery: How PSOs Provide a Secure Environment for Safety Work

It's been 19 years since the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 facilitated the formation of Patient Safety Organizations or PSOs, in an effort to reduce the incident of adverse events and improve the quality of care for patients. PSOs provide a federally protected environment, where leaders can complete vital safety work to enhance the quality of care without fear of discovery. But what work is protected? How can hospitals, health systems, senior care providers, and ambulatory leaders ensure that they are appropriately collecting, managing, and analyzing safety-related information?

During this webinar, attorney Andrew Bolin of Bolin Law Group will discuss the legal protections afforded to providers and what they mean on a day-to-day, case-by-case basis. He will also dissect real-world cases to explain the protections available to healthcare organizations and how to ensure that your organization is taking the appropriate steps to protect your safety work.

Learning objectives

At the end of the webinar, participants will understand:

• The establishment of a Patient Safety Evaluation System and how it relates to a PSO
• The differences between state protections and federal protections
• How to work with surveyors who request information protected under the Act

Speakers

Andrew S. Bolin, Esq., BCS

Partner and Owner, Bolin Law Group

Andrew Bolin is a board-certified civil trial attorney licensed in Florida and Texas. After graduating from Stetson Law School cum laude in 2002, Mr. Bolin began his practice defending clients against professional liability and personal injury claims. In addition to handling civil trials, Mr. Bolin has been asked by various clients to support their positions through amicus curiae briefs in front of the state of Florida appellate courts, the Florida Supreme Court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Bolin is also a registered Florida lobbyist and is called upon frequently to draft bill language and present to the Florida legislature on topics involving professional malpractice and tort reform. Mr. Bolin was the first and only recipient from the state of Florida to receive the Fred Sievert award for his accomplishments in furthering the interests of the defense bar and is a past President for the Florida Defense Lawyer's Association and a past state representative for Florida to the Defense Research Institute. Mr. Bolin has also been inducted into The Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel—an invitation only professional association composed of recognized leaders in the legal community who have achieved professional distinction.