Errors bill had support of hospitals

By David McGrath Schwartz (contact)

Sunday, May 31, 2009 | 2 a.m.

CARSON CITY — Lobbyists and lawmakers are scratching their heads over a number of Gov. Jim Gibbons’ 42 vetoes, among them his snub of Senate Bill 319.

Health care advocates and hospitals signed off on the legislation, which they saw as a way to improve health care in the state.

Now, hospitals must track and report “sentinel events” — mishaps that further damage the health of patients, including infections, mishandling of patients, or surgical errors such as the amputation of the wrong limb.

The bill would require:

• Hospitals to conduct investigations into the cause of the events and to develop a plan to remedy the problem.

• Information to be reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s national database, allowing Nevada to apply for as much as $1.7 million in aid for infection control.

• The boards overseeing doctors and nurses to report to the state sentinel events they learn of while conducting their business.

Gibbons vetoed the bill Tuesday.

In his letter to lawmakers he said, “many of those additions and amendments represent sound public policy.” But the bill could also lead to “mischief from those who would seek to profit from the misfortunes of others by identifying events that could become the basis of litigation.”

Not true, said Bobbette Bond, spokeswoman for the Health Services Coalition, which includes labor unions and large employers. Although there would be an annual statewide report on sentinel events, no hospital would be identified, preventing any potential litigation, she said.

“We were surprised by the veto. It had the industry’s support, there was no litigation opportunity and it was a collaborative effort,” she said. “It’s troubling that it’s so hard to move forward on health care quality improvements in Nevada.”

Bill Welch, president of the Nevada Hospital Association, said Gibbons did not consult with the association before vetoing the legislation.