About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

GAO-12-6R 1 (2011-10-28)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacfky0001 and id is 1 raw text is: GAO Acona ity * Integrity * Reliability United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 October 28, 2011 The Honorable Bob Filner Ranking Member Committee on Veterans' Affairs House of Representatives The Honorable Michael H. Michaud Ranking Member Subcommittee on Health Committee on Veterans' Affairs House of Representatives Subject: VA Health Care: VA Uses Medical Injury Tort Claims Data to Assess Veterans' Care, but Should Take Action to Ensure That These Data Are Complete The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates one of the largest health care delivery systems in the nation-providing health care services to more than 5 million veterans each year in over 1,000 facilities.1 These health care services are delivered by physicians, nurses, and other types of practitioners and range from routine examinations to complex surgical procedures. As in any health care setting, veterans receiving health care services at VA facilities may be at risk of incurring medical injury as a result of substandard care.2 Recent incidents have heightened concern about the quality of care provided to veterans by VA facilities.3 For example, in 2010 we reported that one VA facility discovered in 2009 that medical equipment had been improperly cleaned, thus posing safety risks to 2,526 veterans.4 1As of November 2010, VA's health care system included 153 VA medical centers (VAMC), 773 community-based outpatient clinics, 135 community living centers (nursing homes), 260 Vet Centers, 47 residential rehabilitation treatment programs, and 121 comprehensive home care programs. 2When we refer to medical injuries, these injuries include death. We use the term substandard care to refer to an episode of care for which VA determined that a licensed medical practitioner rendered care that was below established medical practice standards. See Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Handbook 1100.17, National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Reports (Dec. 28, 2009). 3According to VA, quality care is patient-centered care delivered competently at the appropriate time and in a safe environment. 4This VAMC discovered that equipment in use was not being properly cleaned, thus potentially exposing 2,526 veterans to infectious diseases, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. See GAO, VA Health Care: Preliminary Observations on the Purchasing and Tracking of Supplies and Medical Equipment and the Potential Impact on Veterans' Safety, GAO-1 0-1 038T (Washington, D.C.: Sept. 23, 2010). See also GAO, VA Health Care: Weaknesses in Policies and Oversight Governing Medical Supplies and Equipment Pose Risks to Veterans' Safety, GAO-i 1-391 (Washington, D.C.: May 3, 2011). GAO-12-6R VA Use of Tort Claims Data

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most