[Federal Register: April 16, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 74)]
[Notices]
[Page 20676-20677]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ap08-67]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed information collection
project: ``Assessing the Impact of the Patient Safety Improvement Corps
(PSIC) Training Program.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), AHRQ invites the public to
comment on this proposed information collection.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 16, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz,
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by e-mail at
doris.lefkowitz@ahrq.hhs.gov.
Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection
instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be
obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by e-mail at
doris.lefkowitz@ahrq.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
Assessing the Impact of the Patient Safety Improvement Corps (PSIC)
Training Program
AHRQ proposes to assess the impact of the PSIC training program.
This three-week program was designed and implemented by AHRQ and the
Veterans' Administration's (VA) National Center for Patient Safety
(NCPS) to improve patient safety by training participants in various
patient safety concepts, tools, information, and techniques. The PSIC
program represents a new approach to training for AHRQ by focusing on
disseminating patient safety information and building skill sets to
ultimately foster a national network of individuals who support,
promote, and speak a common language of patient safety. Participants
have included representatives from State health departments, hospitals
and health systems, Quality Improvement Organizations, and a very small
number of other types of organizations. AHRQ will use an independent
contractor to conduct the assessment of the PSIC training program. The
goal of the assessment is to determine the extent to which the PSIC
concepts, tools, information, and techniques have been used on the job
by training participants and successfully disseminated within and
beyond the participating organizations, local areas, regions, and
States. AHRQ is assessing the PSIC program pursuant to its authority
under 42 U.S.C. 299(b) and 42 U.S.C. 299a(a) to evaluate its strategies
for improving health care quality.
The assessment involves two Web-based questionnaires to examine
post-training activities and patient safety outcomes of the training
from multiple perspectives. One questionnaire is directed to training
participants while the other is directed to leaders of the
organizations from which the training participants were selected.
Questionnaires will focus on the following topics: (1) Post-PSIC
activities (including how PSIC material has been utilized in their home
organizations, types of patient safety activities conducted post-PSIC,
and number of people trained in some or all aspects of PSIC since their
attendance); (2) barriers to and facilitators of the use of PSIC in the
workplace; and (3) perceived outcomes of PSIC participation (e.g.,
improved patient safety; improved patient safety processes, standards,
or policies; improved investigative and analytical processes and
selection and implementation of patient safety interventions; improved
patient safety culture; improved communications).
Method of Collection
All training participants and organizational leaders from
participating organizations will be invited to respond to their
corresponding Web-based questionnaire. Invitations will be sent via e-
mail, using contact information previously collected by AHRQ and NCPS.
Standard non-response follow-up techniques, such as two reminder e-
mails that include the link to the questionnaire, will be used.
Individuals and organizations will be assured of the privacy of their
responses.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
Exhibit 1 shows the estimated annualized burden hours for the
respondents' time to participate in the study. Each questionnaire is
expected to require about 30 minutes to complete, resulting in a total
burden of 188 hours.
Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annualized cost burden based on the
respondents' time to participate in the study. The total cost burden is
estimated to be $6,278.60.
Exhibit 1.--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of
Form name Number of responses per Hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
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Training participant questionnaire.............. 300 1 30/60 150
Organizational leader questionnaire............. 75 1 30/60 38
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Total....................................... 375 NA NA 188
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Exhibit 2.--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden
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Number of Total burden Average hourly Total cost
Form name respondents hours wage rate* burden
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Training participant questionnaire.............. 300 150 $32.18 $4,827.00
[[Page 20677]]
Organizational leader questionnaire............. 75 38 $38.20 $1,451.60
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Total....................................... 375 188 NA $6,278.60
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*Based upon the mean of the average wages for health professionals for the training participant questionnaire
and for executives, administrators, and managers for the organizational leader questionnaire presented in the
National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States, June 2005, U.S. Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
The total cost to the government for this activity is estimated to
be $127,442 to conduct the two one-time questionnaires and to analyze
and present its results. This amount includes costs for developing the
data collection tools ($50,976); collecting the data ($25,488);
analyzing the data and reporting the findings ($44,605); and
administrative support activities ($6,373).
Request for Comments
In accordance with the above-cited Paperwork Reduction Act
legislation, comments on AHRQ's information collection are requested
with regard to any of the following: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
AHRQ health care research, quality improvement and information
dissemination functions, including whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of burden
(including hours and costs) of the proposed collection(s) of
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information upon the respondents, including the use
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the
proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of
public record.
Dated: April 8, 2008.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E8-8060 Filed 4-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M