(a) There is established a quality of care program within the Department of Public Health. The Commissioner of Public Health shall develop for the purposes of said program (1) a standardized data set to measure the clinical performance of health care facilities, as defined in section 19a-630, and require such data to be collected and reported periodically to the department, including, but not limited to, data for the measurement of comparable patient satisfaction, and (2) methods to provide public accountability for health care delivery systems by such facilities. The commissioner shall develop such set and methods for health care facilities and may revise such sets and methods as necessary, as determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall consult with an association of hospitals in the state on the scope and timing of the data reporting requirements described in this section to reduce the administrative burden on hospitals in producing and disclosing such data. Data collected pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not include personally identifiable information of patients.

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(b) In carrying out its responsibilities under subsection (a) of this section, the department shall develop the following for the quality of care program:

(1) Comparable performance measures to be reported;

(2) Selection of patient satisfaction survey measures and instruments;

(3) Methods and format of standardized data collection;

(4) Format for a public quality performance measurement report;

(5) Human resources and quality measurements;

(6) Medical error reduction methods;

(7) Systems for sharing and implementing universally accepted best practices;

(8) Systems for reporting outcome data;

(9) Systems for continuum of care;

(10) Recommendations concerning the use of an ISO 9000 quality auditing program;

(11) Recommendations concerning the types of statutory protection needed prior to collecting any data or information under this section and sections 19a-127m and 19a-127n;

(12) Recommendations concerning the collection and analysis of data on patient malnutrition for the purposes of improving quality of care; and

(13) Any other issues that the department deems appropriate.

(c) (1) There is established a Quality of Care Advisory Committee which shall advise the Department of Public Health on the issues set forth in subdivisions (1) to (12), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section. The advisory committee may meet at the discretion of the Commissioner of Public Health.

(2) Said committee shall create a standing subcommittee on best practices. The subcommittee shall (A) advise the department on effective methods for sharing with providers the quality improvement information learned from the department’s review of reports and corrective action plans, including quality improvement practices, patient safety issues and preventative strategies, (B) not later than January 1, 2006, review and make recommendations concerning best practices with respect to when breast cancer screening should be conducted using comprehensive ultrasound screening or mammogram examinations, and (C) not later than January 1, 2008, study and make recommendations to the department concerning best practices with respect to communications between a patient’s primary care provider and other providers involved in a patient’s care, including hospitalists and specialists. The department shall, at least quarterly, disseminate information regarding quality improvement practices, patient safety issues and preventative strategies to the subcommittee and hospitals.

(d) The advisory committee shall consist of (1) four members who represent and shall be appointed by the Connecticut Hospital Association, including three members who represent three separate hospitals that are not affiliated of which one such hospital is an academic medical center; (2) one member who represents and shall be appointed by the Connecticut Nursing Association; (3) two members who represent and shall be appointed by the Connecticut Medical Society, including one member who is an active medical care provider; (4) two members who represent and shall be appointed by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, including one member who represents a large business and one member who represents a small business; (5) one member who represents and shall be appointed by the Home Health Care Association; (6) one member who represents and shall be appointed by the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities; (7) one member who represents and shall be appointed by LeadingAge Connecticut, Inc.; (8) two members who represent and shall be appointed by the AFL-CIO; (9) one member who represents consumers of health care services and who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health; (10) one member who represents a school of public health and who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health; (11) the Commissioner of Public Health or said commissioner’s designee; (12) the Commissioner of Social Services or said commissioner’s designee; (13) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management or said secretary’s designee; (14) two members who represent licensed health plans and shall be appointed by the Connecticut Association of Health Care Plans; (15) one member who represents and shall be appointed by the federally designated state peer review organization; and (16) one member who represents and shall be appointed by the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Association. The chairperson of the advisory committee shall be the Commissioner of Public Health or said commissioner’s designee. The chairperson of the committee, with a vote of the majority of the members present, may appoint ex-officio nonvoting members in specialties not represented among voting members. Vacancies shall be filled by the person who makes the appointment under this subsection.

(e) The chairperson of the advisory committee may designate one or more working groups to address specific issues and shall appoint the members of each working group. Each working group shall report its findings and recommendations to the full advisory committee.

(f) The advisory committee shall establish methods for informing the public regarding access to the department’s consumer and regulatory services.

(g) The Department of Public Health may seek out funding for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this section. Said provisions shall be implemented upon receipt of such funding.