2500-H - Statewide perinatal data system.

* §  2500-h.  Statewide  perinatal data system. 1. In order to support  quality care at all hospitals with obstetric services, the department is  authorized to provide de-identified information for all births  at  each  affiliate  hospital  in  each regional perinatal center's network to the  regional  perinatal  center  and  the  affiliate,   except   that   such  information  shall  include  zip  code  and  a unique identifier such as  medical record number.    2. The information when received  by  the  department  shall  be  used  solely  for  the  purpose  of improving quality of care and shall not be  subject to release under article six of the  public  officers  law,  and  where  applicable, shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of  section twenty-eight hundred five-m of this  chapter,  except  that  the  release  of  birth  certificate  information shall be subject to section  forty-one hundred seventy-four of this chapter.    3. The commissioner may  release  information  collected  through  the  statewide  perinatal  data  system  to  his  or her designees, including  persons or entities under contract with the department to review quality  of care issues, as required to monitor regional  perinatal  centers  and  affiliate  hospitals  and  conduct  quality  improvement  initiatives as  needed to monitor, evaluate and improve patient care and outcomes.  Such  designee  or  person  or  entity  under  contract with the department to  review quality of care issues shall maintain the confidentiality of  all  such  information  and  shall use it only to improve quality of care, as  approved by the department.    * NB There are 2 § 2500-h's