Hatlie Joins Joint Commission Sentinel Event Advisory Group

Consumers Advancing Patient Safety to Help Identify JCAHO National Patient Safety Goals

CHICAGO, September 30, 2004 - Martin J. Hatlie, JD, Co-founder, Consumers Advancing Patient Safety (CAPS) and President of Partnership for Patient Safety, has accepted an invitation to become a member of the Sentinel Event Advisory Group of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The goal of the Sentinel Event Advisory Group is to support the provision of timely information, guidance and direction to accredited healthcare organizations respecting the occurrence, management and prevention of serious adverse events in the delivery of healthcare service.

"I look forward to working with the Joint Commission and other members of the Sentinel Event Advisor Group," Hatlie said, "and I hope to be of service."

Formed in 2002, the Sentinel Event Advisory Group annually recommends National Patient Safety Goals for adoption by the Joint Commission Board of Commissioners. In Addition, the Advisory Group members review draft patient safety recommendations for potential publication in the Sentinel Event Alert, a Joint Commission publication. Representing CAPS, Hatlie will join a group of experienced physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other patient safety experts to advise JCAHO in the development of its National Patient Safety Goals and associated recommendations.

About Consumers Advancing Patient Safety

Consumers Advancing Patient Safety (CAPS) us a consumer-led non-profit organization formed to be a collective voice for individuals, families, and healers who wish to prevent harm in healthcare encounters through partnership and collaboration. CAPS envisions creating a healthcare system that is safe, compass-ionate and just. The group was co-founded by Roxanne J. Goeltz; Susan E. Sheridan, MIM, MBA; Martin J. Hatlie, JD; and Mitchell L. Dvorak, MS, CAPS Executive Director.

######

For more information on Consumers Advancing Patient Safety, contact Mitchell Dvorak, at (312) 274-1301 or via email at mdvorak@patientsafety.org