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Adverse Health Care Events

The Illinois Adverse Health Care Events Reporting Law of 2005 requires the Department to collect reports of certain adverse health care events in hospitals and ambulatory surgical treatment centers in Illinois. These reportable events are called "never" events because the goal is that they should never happen in a health care setting. The events are surgical events, product or device events, patient protection events, care management events, environmental events, and physical security events. These adverse events are part of the National Quality Forum never events. The Illinois Adverse Health Care Events Reporting Law requires an Advisory Council to assist with writing the administrative rule, and to review the Department's recommendations for potential quality improvement practices and modifications to the list of reportable adverse health care events consistent with national standards. In connection with its review of the Department's recommendations, the committee shall conduct a public hearing seeking input from health care facilities, health care professionals, and the public.

The law requires that the reports include a root cause analysis of why each event happened, along with the health care facility's plan of action intended to address the root causes identified. The Division of Patient Safety and Quality will disseminate information intended to improve patient safety, quality of care, and overall hospital and ambulatory performance.

Associated Adverse Care JCAR Rules

The Department is in the process of implementing this Act. Reported data will be accessible in the future.

Resources

Laws & Rules