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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaaxhk0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
D)OCUMENT RESUME
05988 - [B.386433]
Inappropriate Number of Acu-e Care Beds Planned ky VA for Fev
Hospitls. HRD-18-102; B-13'044. May 17, 1978. 49 pp. -, 2
appendices (13 pp.).
Report to Sen. Villiam Proxmire, Chairmav, Senate Committee on
Apr opriations: HOD-Independent Agencies Subcommittee; by Elmer
S. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Health Programs (1200); Health Programs: Belth
Providers (1202).
Contact: Human Resources Div.
Budget Function: Veterans Benefits and Services: Hospital and
Medical Care for Veterans (703).
Organization Concerned: Veterans Adminiztration.
Congressional 3elevance: House Committee on Veterans$ Affaii-s;
Senate Committee on Veterans$ Affairs; Senate Committee on
Appropriations: HOD-Independent Agencies Subcommittee. Sen.
William Proxmire.
Authority: National Health Planning and Resources Development
Act of &I74 (P.L. !3-641).
The Veterans Administration (Vk) 3s planning four
replacement hospitals as part of its construction prcgram. The
VA relied on historical patient workload data trends projected
to 1985 from each of the existing facilities -.a aaking its
estimates cf future bed requirements. However, historical data
on patient -se of existing facilities are nct considered a gcod
indicator of future needs if lover cost alternatives to acute
care are not readily aviilable to VA in sufficient quantities.
Without access to such alternatives as intermediate care and
nursing nome care, VA hospital patients would tend to remain
longer than necessary in acute care beds, and historical data on
patient use uould be artificia ly inflated.
Findings/Conclusions: To suggest a way to overcome these
problems, a nev model was developed which analyzed past
practices and determined what different degrees of care should
have been provided. The model is designed tc analyze
computerized medical records of each patient discharged from the
existing VA hospital and to determine how lcng, cn an average,
such a patient would have remained in an acute care bed section
of a non-Federal community hospital. The model dces nct suggest
that VA hospital beds are used for patients without medical
problems but that their problems often do nct require the
resources associated uith acute care beds foz the full period of
their medical treatment. The VA's method of projecting
admissions and average length of stay zould be changed because
it does not adequately discern between acute and other types of
care or show expected changes in the age mix of eligible
veterans. Recommendations: The Congress shculd require that the
VA justify all new and replaf-evnt hospitals, in terms of
priority, on the basis of a clear and explicit set of objective](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaaxhk0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)