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Healthcare Inspection – Laboratory Processing Delays and Environmental Safety Concerns, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, Texas

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
13-00636-104
VISN
State
Texas
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Hotline Healthcare Inspection
Recommendations
0
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
The VA Office of Inspector General Office of Healthcare Inspections conducted an inspection to determine the validity of allegations regarding laboratory processing delays and environmental safety concerns at the VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX. A complainant alleged that: Specimen containers have unreadable labels that cannot be matched to the paperwork received. A patient went to a private provider for a Papanicolaou (Pap) test because of delays receiving results through the VA, and the test was positive for cancer. Service leadership took no action when the Pap test delays were reported. The ventilation system in the Histology laboratory is not adequate. Chemicals and explanted pacemakers are not appropriately stored and disposed of. Food and drinks are stored in refrigerators meant for laboratory items. We did not substantiate any of the allegations. We found proper procedures in place for specimen labeling, processing, and documentation of records. We made no recommendations.
Recommendations (0)