N.Y. Public Health Law § 2999-m: New York state hospital quality initiative

§ 2999-m. New York state hospital quality initiative. The New York

state hospital quality initiative, including the New York state

obstetrical patient safety workgroup, will be created in the department

of health to be comprised of medical, hospital and academic experts and

other stakeholders chosen by the commissioner.

The New York state quality initiative will oversee the general

dissemination of initiatives, guidance, and best practices to general

hospitals. Activities will include but not be limited to: building

cultures of patient safety and implementing evidence based care in

target areas. The workgroup will undertake collaborative work to improve

obstetrical care outcomes and quality of care, based on identifying and

implementing evidence based practices, and clinical protocols that can

be standardized and adopted by hospitals including but not limited to:

(a) Surveying, reviewing and analyzing current "best" practices

employed in obstetrical cases, including exploring the use of "virtual

grand rounds";

(b) Undertaking a review of claims in an effort to develop a set of

"standard best practices" for deliveries in New York state;

(c) Formulating and recommending to the commissioner best practice

standards and designing new programs for implementation and improved

outcomes, including but not limited to, clinical bundles for high

priority conditions, electronic fetal monitoring training and

certification, and team training; and

(d) Engaging the existing regional perinatal center network in

dialogues regarding the above topics and making recommendations to

improve and/or upgrade assistance and communication to smaller

hospitals.