In February 2020, the NYSDOH’s Office of Quality and Patient Safety launched the electronic AER tool for the reporting of adverse events (AEs) as required by Public Health Law § 230-d. Since launched, 70 percent of AE reports (AERs) have been received via this tool.  In order to promote efficient collection of consistent information, effective April 1, 2021, we are accepting only electronic AER submissions.

The AER tool is located on a secure web-based application and uses https encryption.  To insure you are on the secure web-based application look for the lock symbol to the right of the web address. The URL to access the AER is https://obsaer.health.ny.gov and works with Internet Explorer 11+, Chrome, Safari and Firefox.  Please use the latest browser version for the best experience.  Since there is no ability to save a partially completed AER and complete it at a later time, you should complete the AER once you have started it.  Otherwise, you will need to complete it again in its entirety at a later time.  You will be able to save and print the completed form once it is submitted. 

For your convenience you can attain a printable copy of the AER user guide by clicking on the question mark (?) at the top right-hand corner of the web-based application.  Training videos are available to guide mandated reporters through the electronic submission of the web-based AER form. The video for mandated reporters who are members of the OBS practice submitting a web-based AER form, can be viewed on the OBS website https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/office-based_surgery/  and are also located within the AER tool. 

Should you have any questions regarding the electronic adverse event reporting tool, please contact the Office of Quality & Patient Safety, OBS Program at (518) 408-1219 or at obs@health.ny.gov.