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PRINCETON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale, Loretta Weinberg, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which will require the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to publicly report certain preventable patient safety errors at New Jersey’s hospitals was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“Health care consumers have a right to know, particularly when it comes to the safety and quality of their health care experience,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the lead sponsor on the bill and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “This new law requires hospitals to report some basic information which will allow health care consumers to make informed choices regarding their care, and will prohibit hospitals from being paid for errors which should have never happened. Ultimately, fair market principles will help put pressure on underperforming hospitals to do better, and will put greater focus than ever before on patient safety in health care facilities across New Jersey.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale, Loretta Weinberg, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would require the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to publicly report certain preventable patient safety errors at New Jersey’s hospitals was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 38-0.

“As we work to make health care safer for patients in New Jersey, we have to recognize that one of the biggest drivers of patient safety is a free and open marketplace,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health Committee. “Publicizing patient safety records of hospitals would allow health care consumers to make informed decisions about their medical care. This bill would provide essential consumer information to New Jersey residents and would put more pressure on health care facilities to do more to ensure patient safety.”