**** HEALTH/WELLNESS Media Release
Amendment to the Quality Improvement Information Protection Act
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The government will further reduce barriers for healthcare providers to report patient-safety incidents with an amendment introduced today, March 24, to the Quality Improvement Information Protection Act.
Each patient-safety incident reported results in a review. Currently, the act protects information that may identify a patient, provider or participant involved in the quality review process. However, the act does not have a provision to protect this information from being disclosed if another piece of legislation compels it to do so.
“When healthcare providers report patient incidents, it helps us improve the healthcare system, the provision of health services and patient outcomes,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness. “The amendment will protect information that may identify people involved in the quality review process. This will give the assurance providers need to feel comfortable to report patient-safety incidents.”
The amendment will ensure the Quality Improvement Information Protection Act prevails in situations where it conflicts with another piece of legislation.
This will ensure that identifying information is not released. This amendment does not impact the release of recommendations or outcomes from the quality review process.
Quick Facts:
— the Quality Improvement Information Protection Act was introduced on April 21, 2015
Additional Resources:
Bills tabled in the legislature this spring are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1
Quality Improvement Information Protection Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/quality-improvement%20information%20protection.pdf
