House panel OKs health care whistleblower bill

[Freddie Stubbs]

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

By Steve Twedt, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



A bill that would strengthen whistleblower protection for Pennsylvania doctors, nurses and other licensed health workers has been forwarded for consideration by the state House.

Yesterday, the House Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved the bill, which is not expected to come up for a House vote until the fall.

Among other things, it would establish a confidential toll-free line that doctors and nurses could use to report problems pertaining to patient safety and quality of care. Those reports would be investigated by the state's Patient Safety Authority, which can recommend that the Department of Health impose fines on hospitals for unsafe or dangerous conditions.

The bill also prohibits facilities from retaliating against health workers who report those conditions in good faith.

more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04161/328976.stm