Maryland
The Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene administers the mandatory reporting system in Maryland. Maryland hospitals are now required to have policies facilitating the internal reporting of “near misses” in addition to adverse events, and root cause analyses must be performed on all near misses and adverse events. Facilities are also required to craft and implement plans to prevent these serious problems from recurring.
To help prevent adverse events, OHCQ collaborates with the Maryland Patient Safety Center, an AHRQ-recognized patient safety organization.
| Alerts and advisories | Health Care Quality Clinical Alerts | Maryland |
| Authorizing statutes or regulations | Maryland General Code, Title 19, Section 139 | Maryland |
| Lists or clarifications of reportable events | Definitions and Examples of Adverse Events (see Appendix D) | Maryland |
| Public reports | 2008 Maryland Hospital Patient Safety Program Annual Report | Maryland |
| Public reports | Older Patient Safety Program Annual Reports | Maryland |
| Reportable event forms | Initial Report of an Adverse Event | Maryland |
| Reportable event forms | Comprehensive and Extended Care Facilities Adverse Event Form | Maryland |
| State website | Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Health Care Quality | Maryland |
| User’s guide for facilities | Patient Safety Decision Tree (see Appendix E) | Maryland |
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
