The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality yesterday issued interim guidance allowing organizations to immediately apply for listing as a patient safety organization. The guidance describes eligibility and certification requirements for PSOs until the agency issues a final rule. Effective with the interim guidance, patient safety data submitted by a health care provider to a listed PSO and data developed by a listed PSO are privileged and confidential under the Patient Safety Act. AHRQ recently released common formats that health care professionals can use to collect and track patient safety information. The interim guidance and common formats can be found at www.pso.ahrq.gov.