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DOCUMENT RESUME
00507 - [A0891494]
Many Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories Underused in Veterans
hdministration Hospitals: Better Planning and Control Needed.
HRD-76-168; B-133044. February 28, 1977. 31 pp.
Report to the Congress; by Rokert F. Keller, Acting Comptroller
General.
Issue Area: Health Programs: Health Facilities (1203); Health
Programs: Systes for Providing Treatment (1205).
Contact: Human Resources Div.
Budget Function: Veterans Benefits and Services: Hospital and
Medical Care for Veterans (703).
Organization Concerned: Veterans Administr,ticn; Veterans
Administration: Dept. of Medicine and Surgery.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Veterans' Affairs;
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs; Congress.
Authetity: P.L. 93-641. 38 U.S.C. 5053.
Better management and control of costly cardiac
catheterization laboratories is needed in Veterans
Administration (VA) hospitals. Findings/Conclusions: Of 12
laboratories reviewed, 11 did not meet minimum VA workload
standards of 150 patients a year. Some duplicated services that
werA available at nearby hospitals. Eight of the 12 laboratories
were not located at hospitals where cardiovascular surgery is
regularly performed, thus exposing patients to unnecessary
risks. Tho VA did not adequately plan nor control cardiac
catheterization programs to assure their need and success.
Recommendations: The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should:
close underused cardiac catheterization laboratories; reevaluate
the operation of these laboratiri6s at hospitals uuable to
perform cardiovascular surgery in emergencies; establish sharing
or contractual arrangements to provide this service; and revise
procedures to require data to justify new latoratories. (HTW)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaabwv0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)