Dameron to Retire from Patient Safety Commission

July 28, 2010 -- After five years as Administrator of the Patient Safety Commission and 30 years in the healthcare field, Jim Dameron has decided to retire. The Board of Directors will begin transition planning immediately, with the goal of hiring a replacement by the end of the year. It is an understatement to say we will miss Jim.

 

The Commission started from scratch in 2003, and is now a significant force in Oregon. Under Jim’s leadership the Commission built the nation’s first voluntary reporting program for adverse events and medical errors (a program that includes hospitals, nursing homes, and ambulatory surgery centers). Within the last year the Commission was awarded two major grants – the first to organize a nine hospital collaborative to reduce healthcare acquired infections, a second to explore the link between patient safety and medical liability reform. In helping to improve safety in the state, the Commission has shown a knack for partnering. For example, in 2007 it played a significant role in building consensus for a statewide infection reporting program. Currently, the Commission is helping nursing home regulators and professionals rethink the relationship between regulation and quality improvement. The Commission’s work under Jim’s administration has been characterized by a consistent vision, the ability to bring divergent opinions to the table, and a quiet determination to make concrete improvements for the benefit of all Oregonians.

 

All of this has set the stage for the important work ahead. Starting with the August 10^th meeting, the Board of Directors will lay the groundwork for the next phase of the Patient Safety Commission. The Commission has proven its worth. Now it must build on its accomplishments – accomplishments that have reduced adverse events and strengthened the state’s healthcare system.