Healthcare Inspection – Alleged Mismanagement of Resources and Quality of Care Issues, Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center, Iron Mountain, MI

At the request of Congressman Bill Johnson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the House Veterans Affairs Committee, the VA Office of Inspector General conducted an inspection to assess the merits of allegations regarding the mismanagement of government funds and quality of care issues at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, MI. We reviewed allegations regarding the compensation rates and overtime patterns of nurse administrators and inappropriate patient transfers. Additionally, we evaluated the following quality of care allegations: (1) no peer review for physicians and nurses, (2) insufficient numbers of primary care physicians affected patient care, (3) ICU nurses were not appropriately trained, and (4) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) physicians and nurses did not participate in the ICU Management Committee meetings. We did not substantiate any of the allegations, and we made no recommendations.