SECTION 2.  Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 53G the following section:–

Section 53H.  As used in this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-

“Adverse Event,” injury to a patient resulting from medical management rather than the patient’s underlying condition.

“Checklist of Care,” predetermined steps to be taken by healthcare providers to decrease the likelihood of a patient experiencing an adverse event during a given procedure.

“Medical management,” the care and treatment of a patient’s disease or condition

The Department of Public Health shall promulgate regulations for the development and implementation of checklists of care that hospitals shall use to prevent adverse events and reduce healthcare-associated infection rates.  The department shall require hospitals to report annually on their use of the checklists.  The department shall promulgate regulations to enforce the provisions of this section no later than December 31, 2012.