§ 23-17-24 - Internal risk management program.
SECTION 23-17-24
§ 23-17-24 Internal risk managementprogram. – Every hospital licensed in this state and its insurance carrier shallcooperatively, as part of their administrative functions, establish an internalrisk management program which shall include at least the following components:
(1) An in-hospital grievance or complaint mechanism designedto process and resolve as promptly and effectively as possible grievances bypatients or their representatives related to incidents, billing, inadequaciesin treatment, and other factors known to influence malpractice claims andsuits. The mechanism shall include appointment of a representative accountableto the hospital administration who shall anticipate and monitor on a day-to-daybasis the grievances and administer the mechanism;
(2) The continuous collection of data by each hospital withrespect to its negative health care outcomes (whether or not they give rise toclaims), patient grievances, claims, suits, professional liability premiums,settlements, awards, allocated and administrative costs of claims handling,costs of patient injury prevention and safety engineering activities, and otherrelevant statistics and information;
(3) Medical care evaluation mechanisms, which shall includebut not be limited to, tissue committees or medical audit committees, to reviewthe appropriateness of procedures performed, to periodically assess the qualityof medical care being provided at the institution, and to pass on the necessityof surgery;
(4) Education programs for the hospital's staff personnelengaged in patient care activities dealing with patient safety, medical injuryprevention, the legal aspects of patient care, problems of communication andrapport with patients, and other relevant factors known to influencemalpractice claims and suits.