Governor Appoints Members of Medical Errors Task Force

CHICAGO -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced that he has appointed 13 people to serve on a medical errors task force to examine various ways to improve the delivery of healthcare service and reduce the possibility of medical errors.

"The people of Illinois must have confidence that they will receive the highest quality of care when they seek medical assistance," Governor Ryan said. "While everyone in the healthcare field shares this goal, questions have been raised about the current system.

"I want the task force to look at more than just individual errors. The poor performance of a health care delivery system also can have a negative impact on the patient."

The task force will examine the areas of minimum staffing levels at hospitals, appropriate levels of training, error reporting procedures, licensure investigations and establishing a best practices clearinghouse. The task force will conduct a series of meetings and will report its findings and recommendations to the Governor by April 1, 2001.

"Illinois citizens must have peace of mind when they seek health care services," Governor Ryan added. "I am confident that this task force will provide important and practical recommendations that, when implemented, will reduce the number of medical errors in Illinois."

The task force members are

• Chairman, Dr. Carl Getto, Dean, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

• Dr. William N. Werner, Vice President, Quality Management, Illinois Masonic Medical Center

• Dr. Leo Henikoff, President/CEO, Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center

• Dave Newell, President, Illinois Pharmacy Association

• Ann O'Sullivan, MSN, RN, President, Illinois Nurses Association

• Barbara Martin, RN, MBA, System Vice President of Provena Health

• Dr. John Lumpkin, Director, Illinois Department of Public Health

• Leonard Sherman, Director, Illinois Department of Professional Regulation

• Nathaniel Shapo, Director, ¸.Illinois Department of Insurance

• Rep. Mary E. Flowers, (D-21st)

• House Republican Leader Lee Daniels or Designee

• Sen. Barack Obama (D-13th)

• Sen. Brad Burzynski (R-35th)