2 New VAOIG Reports

Combined Assessment Program Review of the North Chicago VA Medical Center North Chicago, Illinois 05/20/09. The purpose of the review was to evaluate selected operations, focusing on patient care administration and quality management (QM). During the review, we provided fraud and integrity awareness training to 171 employees. The review covered eight operational activities. The medical center complied with selected standards in the following five activities: (1) contracted/agency registered nurses, (2) coordination of care, (3) emergency/urgent care operations, (4) medication management, and (5) survey of healthcare experiences of patients. We identified the joint venture with the Department of Defense as an organizational strength. We made recommendations for improvement in the following three activities: QM program. Environment of care. Suicide prevention program. VAOIG

Combined Assessment Program Review of the Spokane VA Medical Center Spokane, Washington 05/20/09. The purpose of the review was to evaluate selected operations, focusing on patient care administration and quality management (QM). During the review, we provided fraud and integrity awareness training to 153 employees. The review covered seven operational activities. The medical center complied with selected standards in the following two activities (1) patient satisfaction survey scores and (2) suicide prevention program. We identified effective data sharing between Surgery Service and the Infection Control Practitioner, enhanced safety procedures for methadone use, and an environmental achievement award as organizational strengths. We made recommendations for improvements in the following five activities: QM. Environment of care. Emergency/urgent care operations. Coordination of care. Medication management. VAOIG