Privacy Policy

The Oregon Patient Safety Commission has established policies to protect the security and privacy of all information we collect. We maintain strict internal policies against unauthorized disclosure or use of any client or website user information. Any suspected attempt to breach our policies and procedures, or to engage in any type of unauthorized action involving our web systems will be regarded as potentially criminal activity and may be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Protected Patient Safety Data

Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 2009, Chapter 442.819 through 442.851 specifically addresses disclosure and protection of patient safety data (the entire statute is available online here).

442.844 Patient safety data; use; disclosure.

1. Patient safety data reported to the Oregon Patient Safety Commission and information developed pursuant to the auditing and oversight described in ORS 442.837 (1) may not be disclosed to, subject to subpoena by or used by any state agency for purposes of any enforcement or regulatory action in relation to a participant.

2. Nothing in ORS 442.819 to 442.851 may be construed to limit the regulatory or enforcement authority of any state agency and, except for patient safety data, state agencies have the same authority to access participant records or other information in the same manner and to the same extent as if ORS 442.819 to 442.851 were not enacted.

3. As used in this section, “state agency” has the meaning given that term in ORS 183.750. [2003 c.686 §5] Note: See note under 442.819.

442.846 Patient safety data not admissible in civil actions.

1. Patient safety data and reports obtained by a patient safety reporting program from participants are confidential and privileged and are not admissible in evidence in any civil action, including but not limited to a judicial, administrative, arbitration or mediation proceeding. Patient safety data, patient safety activities and reports are not subject to:

   1. Civil or administrative subpoena;

   2. Discovery in connection with a civil action, including but not limited to a judicial, administrative, arbitration or mediation proceeding; or

   3. Disclosure under state public records law pursuant to ORS 442.820 (3) and, if permissible, federal public records laws.

2. The privilege established under this section does not apply to records of a patient’s medical diagnosis and treatment and to records of a participant created in the ordinary course of business.

3. Patient safety data, collected or developed for the purpose of and with the intent to communicate with or to make a disclosure or report to the patient safety reporting program, that are contained in the business records of the participant are confidential and not subject to civil or administrative subpoena or to discovery in a civil action, including but not limited to a judicial, administrative, arbitration or mediation proceeding.

4. The following persons are not subject to an action for civil damages for affirmative actions taken, acts of omission or statements made in good faith:

   1. A person serving on the Oregon Patient Safety Commission Board of Directors;

   2. A person serving on a committee established by the board;

   3. A person communicating information to the Oregon Patient Safety Reporting Program; or

   4. A person conducting a study or investigation on behalf of the program.

5. A participant or a representative of the Oregon Patient Safety Reporting Program may not be examined in any civil action, including but not limited to a judicial, administrative, arbitration or mediation proceeding, as to whether a communication of any kind, including oral and written communication, has been made or shared with another participant or with the program regarding patient safety data, patient safety activities, reports, records, memoranda, analyses, deliberative work, statements or root cause analyses, provided the communication was made with the intent of making a disclosure to or preparing a report to be submitted to the Oregon Patient Safety Commission.

6. Nothing in this section may be construed to:

   1. Limit or discourage patient safety activities of or among participants or the voluntary reporting of patient safety data by one or more participants, individually or jointly, to a patient safety reporting program;

   2. Affect other privileges that are available under federal or state laws that provide greater peer review or confidentiality protections than do the protections afforded under ORS 442.819 to 442.851;

   3. Preempt or otherwise affect mandatory reporting requirements under Oregon law or licensing or certification requirements of state or federal law; or

   4. Diminish obligations of participants to comply with state and federal laws pertaining to quality assurance, personnel management and infection control requirements.

7. Reporting or sharing of patient safety data by a participant is not a waiver of any privilege or protection established under ORS 442.819 to 442.851 or other Oregon law. [2003 c.686 §12]

Opt-Out

This site gives clients and members the following options for removing their information from our databases to disallow future communications or to discontinue our services.

1. You may remove your own email address from our email-lists by clicking on the opt-out links provided in our automated bulk e-mail.

2. You may also send email-list removal requests to: info@oregonpatientsafety.org.

Contacting Oregon Patient Safety Commission

If you have any questions about our privacy statement or your interactions with this website, please contact us at: info@oregonpatientsafety.org.