“In recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on patient safety and quality care. The Quality of Care Information and Protection Act, 2004 (QCIPA), which comes into force on November 1, 2004, is landmark legislation that for the first time in Ontario provides a legislated protection from disclosure for information that is collected by or prepared for a quality of care committee of a health facility.

QCIPA will promote quality care and patient safety in Ontario by enabling hospitals and other health facilities to carry out a review of any incident or event with the assurance that the information generated by the review is protected from disclosure. QCIPA supports the open and frank participation of hospital staff and physicians in the activities of a quality of care committee without concern that the information may be used against them or their colleagues for any purposes including disciplinary actions, lawsuits or other proceedings.

The protection afforded by ACIPA creates a confidential environment in which persons engaged in the delivery of health care can collect, analyze and share information about an incident or event within their health care facility in the interests of quality care and patient safety.”

Hilary Short, President and Chief Executive Officer
Ontario Hospital Association