August 1, 2005 — Kensington, MD --- National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), President and Co-Founder, Suzanne Mintz was selected to represent the patient and family community at the signing of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 on Friday, July 29. Other invited guests were all from the medical community and Congress. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a process for the voluntary and confidential reporting of medical errors to "patient safety organizations," which would develop ways to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors.

I was very proud to represent patients and families at this historic occasion. We of course are the ones most affected when medical errors occur. Some errors dont result in long-term problems, but others do and that is why NFCA is active in the patient safety movement. I was honored to be asked to be at the signing, but even more pleased to see this bill enacted into law, said Ms. Mintz who serves on the Board of the National Patient Safety Foundation and is a founding adviser of CAPS, Consumers Advocating for Patient Safety.

The law provides protection to health professionals who report their methods to patient safety organizations. By providing critical information about medical procedures, doctors and nurses can help others learn from their experiences.

Founded in 1993, The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) is a grassroots organization created to educate, support, empower, and speak up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for a loved one with a chronic illness or disability. NFCA reach across the boundaries of different diagnoses, relationships and life stages to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers. For more information visit www.thefamilycaregiver.org.