Healthcare Inspection – Deficiencies in the Caregiver Support Program, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina

OIG conducted an evaluation in response to allegations that the Caregiver Support Program (CSP) at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC does not operate in accordance with Public Law 111-163 or VA guidelines. We found that: an interdisciplinary team had not appropriately assessed many veterans during the application process; facility leadership did not designate an interdisciplinary CSP team or develop a comprehensive assessment process until February 2014; more than 100 applications were awaiting initial CSP screening, and many of them exceeded the 45-day processing requirement; and the CSP staff had not conducted 90-day and annual follow-up visits as required. We confirmed that the Chief of Social Work Service, and facility leadership, did not assure sufficient staffing in a timely manner to conduct CSP follow-up visits. We did not substantiate that the Caregiver Support Coordinator, who is a registered nurse, did not possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job. We found that caregivers received stipend dollars even though the facility had not documented required annual reassessment. We made five recommendations.