Combined Assessment Program Review of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
14-02083-24
VISN
State
Minnesota
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program
Recommendations
5
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review 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 68 employees. This review focused on seven operational activities. The facility complied with selected standards in the following four activities: (1) quality management, (2) environment of care, (3) coordination of care, and (4) community living center resident independence and dignity. The facility’s reported accomplishments were the Opioid Safety Initiative/Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program and the Women’s Imaging Suite. OIG made recommendations for improvement in the following three activities: (1) medication management, (2) acute ischemic stroke care, and (3) magnetic resonance imaging safety.

Open Recommendation Image, SquareOpenClosed and Implemented Recommendation Image, CheckmarkClosed-ImplementedNot Implemented Recommendation Image, X character'Closed-Not Implemented
No. 1
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that processes be strengthened to ensure that patient learning assessments are documented within 24 hours of admission and that compliance be monitored.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that processes be strengthened to ensure that providers complete and document patient discharge progress notes or discharge instructions and that compliance be monitored.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that processes be strengthened to ensure that clinicians complete and document National Institutes of Health stroke scales for each stroke patient and that compliance be monitored.
No. 4
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that processes be strengthened to ensure that clinicians provide printed stroke education to patients upon discharge and that compliance be monitored.
No. 5
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that processes be strengthened to ensure that Level 2 magnetic resonance imaging personnel conducting secondary patient safety screenings sign the forms prior to magnetic resonance imaging and that compliance be monitored.