Home | PSO

Work with a PSO

Provider benefits of working with a PSO

Become a PSO

The steps to becoming a PSO

Maintain a PSO Listing

The requirements

Areas of Interest

New Webinar: Value of Working With a PSO

Learn how PSOs can boost your hospital's safety and healthcare quality.

Listed PSOs

Information about AHRQ-listed PSOs, including a selection tool to help providers search for a PSO.

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PSO Brochure

This PDF brochure describes provider benefits of working with a PSO and issues they should consider when choosing a PSO.

Common Formats

The Common Formats make it possible to combine data from multiple sources for learning how to improve patient safety.

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Resources

Resources include the law and regulation, as well as guides and other helpful information.

What is a PSO?

Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) collect and analyze data voluntarily reported by healthcare providers to help improve patient safety and healthcare quality. PSOs provide feedback to healthcare providers aimed at promoting learning and preventing future patient safety events. Working with a PSO makes it possible for information from healthcare providers to receive certain legal protections and to be contributed to the Network of Patient Safety Databases (NPSD). Under the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (the Patient Safety Act), AHRQ certifies and lists PSOs.