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News Release

STATEMENT BY TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Regarding New Selected Patient Safety Practices Consensus

I commend the members of the National Quality Forum (NQF) for their important work in identifying an initial set of 30 key patient safety practices. Dr. Kenneth W. Kizer and all the members of the Forum have performed an invaluable service in identifying these systematic approaches to help ensure safety and quality of health care. I am likewise proud that my Department, represented by our Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), has been able to play a part in this effort.

Now, the many different elements of our health care system must work together to bring today's vision to reality. Our long term goal is to ensure that the American people have the highest quality, safest health care system possible. The report released today is an important step in meeting that goal. I am pleased to join members of the NQF, and indeed our entire health care system, in the work that lies ahead to put the initial 30 patient safety practices to work immediately, and to keep moving forward in identifying health care management practices that will serve patients and providers alike in the best way possible.

Note: AHRQ's press release is available at http://www.ahrq.gov/news/vnewsix.htm.

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

Last Revised: May 15, 2003