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DOCUBENT RESUME
05411 - (B0965903]
(Review of the Efficiency of Veterans Administration Surgery
Services]. HRD-78-85; B-133044. April 4, 1978. 7 pp.
Report to max Cleland, Administrator, Veterans Administration;
by Gregory J. Ahartv Director, Human Resources Div.
Issue Area: Health Programs: System for Providing Treatment
(1205).
Contact: Human Resources Div.
Budget Function: Veterans Benefits and Services: Hospital and
medical Care for Veterans (703).
congressional Relevance: House Committee on Veterans@ affairs;
Senate Committee on Veterans' affairs.
Authority: P.L. 93-82.
A review of outpatient surgery and preadmission testing
programs being used in the Veterans Administraticn (VA) hospital
system disclosed that opportunities exist, through increased use
of these programs, to eliminate the need to hospitalize some
veterans and to reduce the length of hospitalization for others.
I review of a random sample of 233 surgical procedures from a
universe of 6,382 procedures performed at three hospitals during
1975 indicated that from 74 to 1,338 of the 6,382 procedures
could have been performed on an outpatient basis, saving from
2,177 to 5,657 hospital days. Projecting the results of the
sample to a preadmission testing program indicated that a range
of 402 to 998 cases could have had preoperative vorkups on an
outpatient basis, resulting in additional savings of hospital
days. In response to the recommendations of a National Academy
of Science study, the VA has s ated that studies will be
conducted to determine the medical feasibility of performing
more outpatient surgical procedures and to reduce the length of
stay fcr surgery patients. A systemuide policy for outpatient
surgery and preadmission testing should be developed, based on
the results of the VA studies, and the policy should be
implemented in all general medical and surgical hospitals in the
VA system. (SC)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaawxl0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)