How States Report Medical Errors to the Public: Issues and Barriers

This paper explores how data from mandatory reporting systems are (or can be) disclosed to the public. Based upon detailed interviews with states that have mandatory reporting systems, NASHP identified critical junctures in the design of reporting systems that influence the ultimate use of data. By examining and mapping out these critical junctures, the parameters of existing reporting systems can be better understood, and the intent of new reporting systems can be made more explicit and viable.

This report examines the protection and disclosure of mandatory reported data with a focus on:

• When and how states publicly disclose reported data,
• When and how states protect reported data,
• The perceived relationship between reporting and malpractice litigation, and
• Other factors relevant to data disclosure.