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Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-17.21-5. Powers and duties of the department

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

The powers necessary to carry out the duties of this chapter shall be vested in the director and are as follows:

(a) The director shall certify a patient safety organization that has met the following criteria:

(1) has a mission statement with one of its purposes to conduct activities to improve patient safety;

(2) has qualified staff and professionals capable of reviewing and producing patient safety work product and recommendations for system changes;

(3) is not a component of a health insurer or other entity that provides health insurance to individuals or group health plans;  and

(4) has a mission that does not create a conflict of interest with the health care providers who will submit patient safety work product to it.

(b) The director shall establish a quality of care advisory committee that shall advise the department on PSO related issues.  The advisory committee shall consist of fourteen (14) members who are appointed by the director and shall include no less than three (3) representatives of the hospital community;  three (3) representatives of the nursing facility/long term care community;  three (3) members of the freestanding ambulatory surgical center community;  and five (5) others from the community as determined by the director.  The term of office shall be for three (3) years.  No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.  The committee shall advise the department on effective methods for sharing with health care 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.

(c) The director may promulgate rules and regulations in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-17.21-5. Powers and duties of the department - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ri/title-23-health-and-safety/ri-gen-laws-sect-23-17-21-5/

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