The Northwest Safety and Quality Patient Safety Organization (NWSQ PSO) is a component of WSHA established in 2019. It supports Washington hospitals with federal protections under the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA).
The NWSQ PSO promotes a culture of safety and transparency engaging Washington hospitals to collaborate on patient safety events to address errors and near misses. It fosters equitable best practices through data analysis, benchmarking and accountability for a safer environment for patients and staff
A patient safety organization (PSO) is an organization that collaborates with health care professionals to enhance safety and quality of patient care, including identifying and addressing health inequities.
Getting Started
Beginning in fiscal year 2025, hospitals must make attestations related to specific activities to receive points necessary for some payments under the CMS 2025 IPPS regulation. These requirements include the submission of patient safety structural measures (PSSM) data. As part of this rule, hospitals are required to have:
- A leadership commitment to eliminating preventable harm
- Strategic planning and organizational policy that integrates patient safety
- A culture of safety and learning health system that fosters a culture in which staff can commit to continuous improvement and report safety concerns without fear
- Accountability and transparency in patient safety practices and outcomes
- Patient and family engagement in safety efforts
There is a difference between a PSO, and a Washington State recognized Coordinated Quality Improvement Program (CQIP). WSHA’s CQIP, the NWSQ PSO, both aim to improve health care quality and safety, but they have different scopes and protections and require separate agreements. While the CQIP is specific to Washington State and offers state-level protections, the NWSQ PSO has a broader scope and provides federal protections.