Adverse Event Reporting Tools for New Hampshire

In 2009, New Hampshire enacted legislation to require the reporting of 28 listed adverse events in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.  Beginning January 1, 2010, hospitals and surgical centers will be required to report to the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) when any of the 28 adverse events occur.  Deidentified reports must be made within 15 working days of the discovery of such an event.  The legislation requires DHHS to establish a non-punitive system of reporting that will include the mandatory completion of root cause analyses and corrective action plans.  The Commissioner will also be required to publish an annual report summarizing the adverse events of the past year, and he or she will be charged with recommending updates to the initial list of 28 events to the legislature.