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Contructinq new VA A%.pital in Camden. Ne jezgey, unjustified.
HBP-18-51; 9-133044. February 6# 197C. 21 pp. * 3 appendices (14
pp.).
Report to So'.. William Proxmire. Chairman, Senate Committee on
AppropriaxioL : IgD-Inependent gencies Subcommittee; by Elmer
B. Staats Ciaptrollex General.
Issue Area: Uealth Programs (1200); bealth Paograms: health
Loviderm (1202).
Contact: mas Rosources Div.
Budget Pauction: Health: Health Planning and Construction (554);
Veterans Benefis and Service. Hoaspiaal and medical Care
for Veterans t703).
Orqanization Concerned: Veterans Rdministration.
Ci:qressional ieleyrace; House Coanittee on Veterans' affairs;
Senato Committee ou Vt*eLanst Affaixs. Sen. Villian
ProzLire.
As par,' of its constLuction program, the Veterans
Adainistratien (VA) planned to build a new hospital in Camden#
lew Jersey* at estimated construction costs of $75.3 million and
estimated annual operating costs of about $32 million. The
proposed hospital is not a re~placemant of a VA hospital but an
additioc. Findings/Conclusions: The basis for justifying the
new k- sptal was a&, analysis of vatexans' medical needs in the
Philadelphia area9 but the VA used several invalid assumptions.
VW's assumption that admissions to the Philadelphia VA hospital
are constrained by a low bed supply is incorrect in view of more
current information which indicates that this hospital, located
7 miles frum the site of the proposed hospital, is adequate in
size to support tke entire 1985 medical and surgical
requireants of veterans in the area. However, a new VA nursinq
home care unit may b2 needed. The assumption that the
Philadelphia VA hospital length of stay data are an accurate
measur3 of future acute care stays is incorrect since the data
are a mixture of acute, ivtermediate, and nursing home care
stays. VA could not explain, from a priority standpoint, the
basis ewd to select the PhiladelphiaCaaden area for a new
hospital as opposed to another location in the United States.
Recommondations: The Subcommittee should raject funding for a
new VA hospital in camden. few Jersey, but coniider construction
or acquisition of an area VA nursing home aZtcz VA completes its
nationwide ste!y of nursing home requirements. It should also
require that IA justify all new hospital construction proposals
in terns of priority on the basis of objective criteria before
funding is approved. VA should use the criteria to evaluate and
compare the current level of adequacy of VA hospitals nationwide
in meeting veterans' uedical needs and assign the highest
priority for new hospital construction in areas where present
hospitals are least able to provide high quality care. (HIT)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaawsf0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)