PATIENT SAFETY ACT

Creates the Patient Safety Act. Creates the Patient Safety Authority that, among other duties, works with medical facilities and the Department of Public Health to reduce the number and severity of serious events and incidents that occur at the facility and receives reports from health care workers regarding serious events. Provides funding for the Authority and the administration of the Act through a surcharge on the medical facilities' licensing fees, which shall be deposited into the Patient Safety Trust Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Requires medical facilities to develop, implement, and comply with an internal patient safety plan, designate a patient safety officer, and establish a patient safety committee. Provides that a health care worker who reasonably believes that a serious event or incident has occurred shall report the serious event or incident according to the patient safety plan of the medical facility, unless the health care worker knows that a report has already been made. Requires that the medical facility notify the patient or a family member of the patient of a serious event. Contains other provisions. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Patient Safety Authority Trust Fund. Effective January 1, 2005.