(a) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Patient safety organization” means any public or private organization, or component of any such organization, whose primary activity is to improve patient safety and the quality of health care delivery for patients receiving care through the collection, aggregation, analysis or processing of medical or health care-related information submitted to it by health care providers;
(2) “Patient safety work product” means any information, documentation or communication, including, but not limited to, reports, records, memoranda, analyses, statements, root cause analyses, protocols or policies that (A) a health care provider prepares exclusively for the purpose of disclosing to a patient safety organization, (B) is created by a patient safety organization, or (C) contains the deliberations or analytical process of a patient safety organization or between a patient safety organization and health care providers participating in the evaluation of patient care; and
(3) “Health care provider” or “provider” means any person, corporation, limited liability company, facility or institution operated, owned or licensed by this state to provide health care or professional services, or an officer, employee or agent thereof acting in the course and scope of his or her employment.
(b) (1) Any private or public organization or a component of any private or public organization may apply to the Department of Public Health to be designated as a patient safety organization.
(2) The department may designate as a patient safety organization each applicant that (A) has a mission statement indicating its primary purpose is to conduct activities to improve patient safety, (B) has qualified staff and professionals capable of reviewing and producing patient safety work product, (C) is not a component of a health insurer or other entity that provides health insurance to individuals or group health plans, and (D) certifies that its mission does not create a conflict of interest with the health care providers who will submit patient safety work product to it. Each hospital or outpatient surgical facility shall seek to work with one or more patient safety organizations as they become available. The department shall assist hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities in developing working relationships with patient safety organizations.
(c) A health care provider shall enter into a written contract with each patient safety organization to which it sends patient safety work product. Each contract shall require the provider to maintain a document log itemizing the types of documents submitted to patient safety organizations without indicating the content of such documents. Such document log shall be accessible to the department for the sole purpose of allowing the department to verify the type of information submitted to patient safety organizations. The department shall not have access to patient safety work product. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210, 1-211 and 1-213, such document log shall not be subject to disclosure to, or use by, any person or entity, other than the patient safety organization and the provider with which it has contracted, and by the department for the sole purpose provided in this subsection.
(d) A patient safety organization shall, as appropriate, disseminate to health care providers, the department, the Quality of Care Advisory Committee, as established by section 19a-127l, and the public, information or recommendations, including suggested policies, procedures or protocols, on best medical practices or potential system changes designed to improve patient safety and the overall quality of care.
(e) A patient safety organization shall have in place appropriate safeguards and security measures to ensure the technical integrity and physical safety of any patient safety work product. Patient safety work product shall be confidential, and shall not be subject to any discovery, access or use by any person or entity other than the patient safety organization and the provider with which the patient safety organization has contracted. Patient safety work product, if submitted to a public or governmental organization, shall not be subject to the provisions of section 1-210, 1-211 or 1-213. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a patient safety organization from choosing to disclose patient safety work product, or portions of patient safety work product, in conformity with its mission and within its contractual obligations to the provider submitting the information. No patient safety organization may release protected health information or patient identifying information without meeting the requirements of state laws and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended from time to time.
(f) A provider's disclosure of patient safety work product to a patient safety organization shall not modify, limit or waive any existing privilege or confidentiality protection.
(P.A. 04-164, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 04-164 effective July 1, 2004 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (d) the word “section” was added editorially by the Revisors before “19a-127l” for accuracy).
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 19a - Public Health and Well-Being
Chapter 368a - Department of Public Health
Section 19a-2a. - Powers and duties.
Section 19a-4. (Formerly Sec. 19-2a). - Commissioner to organize department and adopt regulations.
Section 19a-4i. - Office of Injury Prevention.
Section 19a-4j. - Office of Health Equity.
Section 19a-4k. - Advisory Commission on Multicultural Health.
Section 19a-4l. - Office of Oral Public Health.
Section 19a-5. (Formerly Sec. 19-4). - Powers and duties of commissioner.
Section 19a-6d. - Tobacco abuse reduction and health plan.
Section 19a-6e. - Traumatic brain injury patient registry.
Section 19a-6f. - Listing of certified medical assistants.
Section 19a-6i. - School-based health center advisory committee. Members. Duties. Report.
Section 19a-6o. - Palliative Care Advisory Council. Duties. Members. Report.
Section 19a-6p. - School-based health centers. Hours. Services. Reimbursement for services.
Section 19a-6q. - Chronic disease plan.
Section 19a-6s. - Provision of vaccines by clinical medical assistants under supervision.
Section 19a-6t. - Connecticut Rare Disease Advisory Council. Duties. Members. Report.
Section 19a-6u. - School-based health center expansion grant program.
Section 19a-7b. - Health Care Access Commission.
Section 19a-7c. - Subsidized nongroup health insurance product for pregnant women.
Section 19a-7d. - Primary care direct services program.
Section 19a-7e. - Health care for uninsured pregnant women demonstration project.
Section 19a-7g. - Childhood Immunization Advisory Council.
Section 19a-7h. - Immunization information system. Regulations.
Section 19a-7i. - Extension of coverage under the maternal and child health block grant.
Section 19a-7k. - Preventive dental care pilot program.
Section 19a-7o. - Hepatitis C and HIV-related testing.
Section 19a-7p. - Public health fee. Annual reporting requirement. Appeal. Penalties. Overpayment.
Section 19a-7s. - Evaluation of data re exemptions from immunization requirements. Report.
Section 19a-7u. - Pilot program to expand behavioral health care. Grants.
Section 19a-12c. - Professional assistance program account.
Section 19a-13. (Formerly Sec. 19-4n). - Regulated professions; definitions.
Section 19a-14. (Formerly Sec. 19-4o). - Powers of department concerning regulated professions.
Section 19a-14a. - Professional licenses. Investigations and disciplinary action.
Section 19a-14b. - Radon mitigators, diagnosticians and testing companies. Regulations.
Section 19a-14c. - Provision of outpatient mental health treatment to minors.
Section 19a-16e. - Scope of practice review committees. Membership. Duties.
Section 19a-16f. - Report to General Assembly on scope of practice review processes.
Section 19a-17. (Formerly Sec. 19-4s). - Disciplinary action by department, boards and commissions.
Section 19a-17a. - Review of medical malpractice awards and certain settlements.
Section 19a-17m. - Malpractice insurance purchase program.
Section 19a-17n. - Malpractice insurance purchase program. Regulations. Limitations.
Section 19a-18. (Formerly Sec. 19-4t). - Meaning of term “licensed” for insurance purposes.
Section 19a-19. (Formerly Sec. 19-4u). - Regulation of business practices.
Section 19a-21. (Formerly Sec. 19-4w). - Disposition of licensing fees.
Section 19a-22. (Formerly Sec. 19-4x). - Actions by department, boards and commissions; appeals.
Section 19a-23. (Formerly Sec. 19-4y). - Boards and commissions; records.
Section 19a-25a. - Regulations re electronic signatures for medical records.
Section 19a-25b. - Electronic prescribing systems authorized.
Section 19a-25c. - Medical records systems: Electronic and paper formats authorized.
Section 19a-25e. - Connecticut Health Information Network plan.
Section 19a-27. (Formerly Sec. 19-7a). - Test for rubella immunity. Regulations.
Section 19a-28. (Formerly Sec. 19-8). - Toxicology laboratory.
Section 19a-29. (Formerly Sec. 19-9). - Special laboratories.
Section 19a-29a. - Environmental laboratories.
Section 19a-31a. - Microbiological and biomedical biosafety laboratories.
Section 19a-32. (Formerly Sec. 19-10). - Department authorized to receive gifts.
Section 19a-32a. - AIDS research education account. Regulations.
Section 19a-32b. - Breast cancer research and education account.
Section 19a-32n. - Information and education re umbilical cord blood collection programs.
Section 19a-32o. - Short title: Connecticut Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program Act.
Section 19a-32p. - Legislative findings and declaration of policy.
Section 19a-32q. - Connecticut Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Board. Membership. Meetings.
Section 19a-32r. - Board to establish and administer umbilical cord blood collection program.
Section 19a-32t. - Umbilical cord blood collection account.
Section 19a-32u. - Copies of independent audits to be submitted to General Assembly.
Section 19a-32v. - Reports to Governor and General Assembly.
Section 19a-33. (Formerly Sec. 19-10a). - Regulation of traffic at department facilities.
Section 19a-36a. - Regulations concerning food operators.
Section 19a-36g. - Food code. Definitions.
Section 19a-36j. - Food inspectors. Certification. Inspections.
Section 19a-36k. - Food-borne illness or outbreak. Investigation.
Section 19a-36l. - Inspection violations. Appeal process.
Section 19a-37h. - Water companies to provide multilingual tier 1 notices.
Section 19a-38. (Formerly Sec. 19-13b). - Water company to add fluoride to water supply.
Section 19a-39. (Formerly Sec. 19-13c). - Protection of wells.
Section 19a-40. (Formerly Sec. 19-14). - Supervision of vital statistics.
Section 19a-41. (Formerly Sec. 19-15). - Compilation of vital records and statistics. Regulations.
Section 19a-42. (Formerly Sec. 19-15a). - Amendment of vital records.
Section 19a-43. (Formerly Sec. 19-15b). - Reproduction of vital records.
Section 19a-44. (Formerly Sec. 19-15c). - Matching of birth and death certificates.
Section 19a-45b. - Medical home pilot program.
Section 19a-45c. - Evaluation and report required re medical home pilot program.
Section 19a-46. (Formerly Sec. 19-17). - Expert examinations and inspections.
Section 19a-48. (Formerly Sec. 19-19). - Care for children with cerebral palsy.
Section 19a-49. (Formerly Sec. 19-19a). - Services for persons with cystic fibrosis.
Section 19a-51. (Formerly Sec. 19-20a). - Pediatric Cardiac Patient Care Fund.
Section 19a-54. (Formerly Sec. 19-21a). - Registration of children with special health care needs.
Section 19a-54a. - Registry of data on infants exposed to AIDS medication.
Section 19a-55a. - Newborn screening account.
Section 19a-55b. - Information on newborn infant safe sleep practices.
Section 19a-56. (Formerly Sec. 19-21c). - Program for prevention of erythroblastosis.
Section 19a-57. (Formerly Sec. 19-21d). - Loans for purchase of hemodialysis treatment machines.
Section 19a-58. (Formerly Sec. 19-21e). - Pamphlet concerning hearing impairments in infants.
Section 19a-59. - Program to identify infants who are hard of hearing.
Section 19a-59b. - Maternal and child health protection program.
Section 19a-59e. - Media campaign for the reduction of adolescent pregnancies.
Section 19a-59h. - Maternal mortality review program. Confidentiality of information.
Section 19a-59i. - Maternal mortality review committee.
Section 19a-60. (Formerly Sec. 19-22). - Dental services for children.
Section 19a-60a. - Dental services for children of low-income families.
Section 19a-61. (Formerly Sec. 19-22b). - Services for children suffering from diabetes.
Section 19a-62. (Formerly Sec. 19-22c). - Services for children suffering from cancer.
Section 19a-69. (Formerly Sec. 19-27). - Distribution of biologic products.
Section 19a-70. (Formerly Sec. 19-28). - Priority of distribution in emergency.
Section 19a-71. (Formerly Sec. 19-29). - Observation and treatment of certain typhoid germ carriers.
Section 19a-72a. - State-wide stroke registry.
Section 19a-73a. - Establishment of comprehensive cancer plan for state.
Section 19a-73b. - Funding sources for comprehensive cancer program.
Section 19a-74. (Formerly Sec. 19-30). - Cancer.
Section 19a-75. (Formerly Sec. 19-30b). - State aid for health career educational programs.
Section 19a-77. - “Child care services” defined. Exclusions. Additional license.
Section 19a-77a. - Child day care services in retail stores.
Section 19a-79. (Formerly Sec. 19-43d). - Regulations. Exemptions. Waivers.
Section 19a-79a. - Pesticide applications at child care facilities.
Section 19a-80g. - Child care center waiting list fees and deposits.
Section 19a-80h. - Enrollment of certain children in preschool programs.
Section 19a-81. (Formerly Sec. 19-43f). - Hearing on denial of license.
Section 19a-83. (Formerly Sec. 19-43h). - Reports of licensees.
Section 19a-85. (Formerly Sec. 19-43j). - Appeal.
Section 19a-86. (Formerly Sec. 19-43k). - Injunction against illegal operation.
Section 19a-86a. - Accepting voluntary surrender of license as resolution of disciplinary action.
Section 19a-86b. - Validity of license during investigation or disciplinary action.
Section 19a-86c. - Failure to provide written notice of proposed closure. Penalty.
Section 19a-87g. - Notification of emergency situations to licensees of day care centers.
Section 19a-88a. - Regulations concerning retired nurses.
Section 19a-88c. - Regulations re retired dentists.
Section 19a-89. (Formerly Sec. 19-46). - Change of office or residence address.
Section 19a-89a. - Database on nursing personnel.
Section 19a-89b. - Fees for pool design guidelines and food compliance guide.
Section 19a-89c. - Auricular acupuncture pilot program.
Section 19a-89d. - Nurse staffing and patient care data.
Section 19a-89e. - Development of prospective nurse staffing plan by hospitals. Report.
Section 19a-90. (Formerly Sec. 19-47). - Blood testing of pregnant women for syphilis and HIV.
Section 19a-92a. - Regulation of persons engaged in tattooing. Penalty.
Section 19a-92g. - Body piercing.
Section 19a-102. (Formerly Sec. 19-59a). - Regulation of sale of turtles.
Section 19a-102a. - Regulation of sale of turtles.
Section 19a-102b. - Importation of turtles.
Section 19a-103. (Formerly Sec. 19-60). - Control of communicable diseases in institutions.
Section 19a-104. (Formerly Sec. 19-61). - Sale of rags to be used as wiping cloths; cleaning.
Section 19a-105. (Formerly Sec. 19-62). - Public toilets.
Section 19a-106. (Formerly Sec. 19-62a). - “Restroom” defined.
Section 19a-106a. - Customer access to employee restrooms in retail establishments.
Section 19a-107. (Formerly Sec. 19-63). - Towels in hotels and public lavatories.
Section 19a-108. (Formerly Sec. 19-64). - Common drinking cups.
Section 19a-110a. - Regional lead poisoning treatment centers.
Section 19a-111a. - Lead poisoning prevention program. Lead state agency.
Section 19a-111c. - Abatement of lead in dwellings. List of encapsulant products. Regulations.
Section 19a-111d. - Regulations.
Section 19a-111e. - Federal funds for lead poisoning prevention programs.
Section 19a-111g. - Pediatric lead testing and risk assessment. Exemption.
Section 19a-111h. - Review of lead poisoning data. Regulations.
Section 19a-111i. - Report re lead poisoning prevention efforts.
Section 19a-111k. - Applicability of OSHA standards to abatement and remediation of lead hazards.
Section 19a-111l. - Guidelines on mold abatement protocols.
Section 19a-112b. - Services to victims of sexual acts.
Section 19a-112c. - Educational materials for sexual assault victims.
Section 19a-112d. - Sexual assault victims account.
Section 19a-112g. - Sexual assault forensic examiners. Responsibilities.
Section 19a-112h. - Financial assistance for victims of sexual assault.
Section 19a-112i. - Community gun violence intervention and prevention program.
Section 19a-113a. - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification of lifeguards.
Section 19a-115. (Formerly Sec. 19-66f). - Regulation of medical test units.
Section 19a-116. (Formerly Sec. 19-66g). - Regulation of facilities which offer abortion services.
Section 19a-121. - HIV and AIDS: Grant program.
Section 19a-121a. - AIDS: Funding to local health departments.
Section 19a-121b. - Regulations.
Section 19a-121c. - HIV and AIDS: Public information program.
Section 19a-121d. - Grants for mass mailing of report on AIDS.
Section 19a-122. - Hospice care for the homeless.
Section 19a-122a. - Hospice care for the homeless. Termination of pilot program.
Section 19a-123. - Nursing pool: Definition.
Section 19a-123b. - Nursing pool: Written agreement with health care institution.
Section 19a-123c. - Regulation of rates charged by nursing pools.
Section 19a-123d. - Aggrievement. Penalties.
Section 19a-124. - Syringe services programs.
Section 19a-124a. - Donation of vans to entities operating needle exchange programs.
Section 19a-125. - Adolescent Health Council.
Section 19a-127l. - Quality of care program. Quality of Care Advisory Committee.
Section 19a-127o. - Patient safety organizations.
Section 19a-127p. - Requirement for hospitals to contract with patient safety organization.
Section 19a-131. - Public health emergency response authority. Definitions.
Section 19a-131a. - Declaration of public health emergency by Governor.
Section 19a-131b. - Orders of quarantine or isolation. Appeal of order. Hearing.
Section 19a-131c. - Enforcement of order of quarantine or isolation.
Section 19a-131d. - Entry into quarantine or isolation premises.
Section 19a-131e. - Orders of vaccination. Appeal of order. Hearing.
Section 19a-131f. - Authorization to administer vaccinations.
Section 19a-131g. - Public Health Preparedness Advisory Committee.
Section 19a-131h. - Registration of deaths.
Section 19a-131i. - Immunity from personal liability.
Section 19a-131k. - Mandatory distribution of potassium iodide.
Section 19a-133. - Declaration of racism as a public health crisis.
Section 19a-133a. - Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health. Membership. Powers and duties.
Section 19a-133d. - Educational materials re pulse oximeters.