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News Release

Statement by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson Regarding Passage by the Ways and Means Committee of the Patient Safety Bill

This administration is committed to improving patient safety and reducing medical errors. Americans deserve the highest quality medical care possible. We welcome the 33-4 bipartisan vote reporting out of the Ways and Means Committee legislation to improve patient safety. I now call on the full House and Senate to take similar action.

I am pleased to say that the Ways and Means legislation responds to the change in direction that the President called for, which is essential to improving quality of care in this country. It will take us away from the blame game played after there has been an injury and will set us on the more productive path of working together to improve the system and to prevent adverse events from occurring in the first place, by encouraging a culture of learning and constant quality improvement in our health care system.

The vast majority of doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals are dedicated, conscientious people who work long hours under very difficult circumstances. They are there when we need them. They would be a critical part of our front-line defense in the event of a bio-terrorism attack. They are heroes. And we should recognize this, to them and to ourselves. We should support, not attack them.

By enabling America's health care professionals in both the public and private sectors to proactively improve quality and safety, this legislation helps us build momentum for moving the debate in the right direction.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: January 16, 2003