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Health and Community Services May 1, 2008 Health Minister Encourages Input to Task Force on Adverse Health Events Today, the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services, encouraged interested individuals and groups to provide their ideas and perspectives to the Task Force on Adverse Health Events on how the health and community services system manages adverse events. The Williams Government established the Task Force on Adverse Health Events to examine and evaluate how the health system identifies, evaluates, responds to and communicates adverse events within the health and community services system. As part of its mandate, the task force is now inviting input on how adverse events are managed within the health system. The feedback gathered will help inform the development of a report with recommendations by the task force for the Provincial Government. "It is important that we have a health and communities services system that is prepared to respond should an adverse health event occur", said Minister Wiseman. "I ask both consumers of our health system and their advocates, along with health professionals and related organizations, to provide their views so that the recommendations brought forward to our government by the task force reflect as comprehensive a perspective as possible." Submissions to the task force can be made via email, fax or regular mail (see Backgrounder for submission guidelines and contact information). The deadline for all submissions is June 13, 2008. The task force will also hold a Provincial Forum on Adverse Health Events on May 26 in St. John�s. Invitations will be sent to stakeholders of the health and community services system. Local and national experts in the area of adverse events will make presentations and participants will engage in workshops to provide further input to the task force. "Our government is committed to a strong and effective health and community services system that responds appropriately to the health needs of our citizens," said Minister Wiseman. "The work of the task force is important to ensure we have the best policies and procedures for managing adverse events when they occur. I look forward to reviewing the report of the task force and its recommendations to the Provincial Government." The Task Force on Adverse Health Events is a separate process from the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing. The task force will not examine specific adverse health events but rather will look at how to improve the management of adverse health events after they occur. The report of the task force to the Provincial Government is expected in the summer 2008. Further information is available at www.gov.nl.ca/ahe or by calling the Office of the Task Force on Adverse Health Events at 709-729-4349. -30- Media contact:
BACKGROUNDERS Guidelines and Contact Information for Submissions to the Task Force The Task Force is calling for submissions from all interested individuals, groups and organizations in relation to its Terms of Reference. Submissions do not necessarily need to address all of the Terms of Reference and may range from a few paragraphs relating to a specific suggestion for improvement or a more lengthy document, providing research, case studies and recommendations for substantive changes. The Canadian Safety Patient Institute defines an adverse event as an event which results in unintended harm to the patient/client and is related to the care and/or services provided to the patient/client rather than to the patient�s underlying medical condition. For lengthy submissions (more than 10 pages), a short executive summary is suggested. Submitting individuals/parties agree that the document, whole or in part, may be reproduced as part of a final report to the Provincial Government (any information of a personal or confidential nature should be indicated and it will remain private and confidential). Submissions, including contact information, can be sent by email, fax or regular mail. The deadline is 5:00 p.m. Friday, June 13, 2008. email: ahe@gov.nl.ca Fax: 709-729-5435 Mail: The Office of Task Force on
Adverse Health Events Further questions related to this call for submission may be directed to: Office of the Task Force on Adverse Health Events 709-729-4349 or lbarrett@gov.nl.ca
Terms of Reference for Task Force on Adverse Health Events 1. Scope: to examine and evaluate how the health system identifies, evaluates, responds and communicates in regard to adverse events within the health system; to examine relevant best practices in other jurisdictions; to propose a mandate, structure and budget for the establishment of a health quality council in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to make such recommendations as may be appropriate. 2. Consultation: private consultation with health authorities and experts; regular dialogue with committee of health authority safety/quality officials; public invitation for submissions; meetings as necessary with relevant stakeholders; and a symposium on adverse health events. 2008 05 01 3:40 p.m.
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