Program Overview

The Patient Safety Reporting System (PSRS) is a non-punitive, confidential, and voluntary program which collects and analyzes safety reports submitted by healthcare personnel.  Staff can report close calls, suggestions, and incident / event related information and data to improve patient safety. 

PSRS is an external, independent system administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and is available to collaborate with both private and federal medical facilities. Staff in all sectors of medical systems can voluntarily report any close calls, events or concerns they have which involve patient safety. Reporters can submit PSRS reports directly to NASA electronically, when established with a healthcare organization, or via the U.S. mail.

NASA is using its experience from developing and managing the highly successful Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). NASA has administered the ASRS, a similar and very successful program, since 1976 without ever violating a reporter’s confidentiality. NASA is an independent, respected research organization that does not have regulatory or enforcement interests. It therefore serves as an “honest broker” that is an objective and trustworthy recipient of reports submitted by healthcare personnel.

The PSRS is available to act as a reporting system that is complementary to a medical facility’s internal reporting or other reporting sytem. Additionally, this can serve as the primary system responsible for capturing close calls, events, patient safety concerns, and suggestions.

Confidentiality TO PERSONS REPORTING

Doctors, nurses and others involved in medical and healthcare settings through prior arrangement with their organization and NASA may submit reports to the PSRS when they are involved in, or observe, an incident or situation in which patient safety may have been compromised. All submissions are voluntary.

Reports sent to the PSRS are held in strict confidence. Of all the reports submitted to date no reporter's identity has ever been breached by the PSRS. PSRS de-identifies reports before entering them into the incident database. All personal and organizational names are removed. Dates, times, and related information, which could be used to infer an identity, are either generalized or eliminated.

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