Combined Assessment Program Review of the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center, Saginaw, Michigan

The purpose of the review was to evaluate selected health care facility operations, focusing on patient care quality and the environment of care. During the review, OIG provided crime awareness briefings to 93 employees. This review focused on seven operational activities and follow-up on recommendations from the previous Combined Assessment Program review. The facility complied with selected standards in the following four activities: (1) quality management, (2) environment of care, (3) medication management, and (4) coordination of care. The facility’s reported accomplishment was being recognized by Hospitals and Health Networks magazine as one of the Most Wired health care systems in the country. OIG made recommendations for improvement in the following three activities: (1) nurse staffing, (2) pressure ulcer prevention and management, and (3) community living center resident independence and dignity and made repeat recommendations regarding Sterile Processing Service sterile storage humidity levels and environment of care rounds attendance.