Review of Community Based Outpatient Clinics and Other Outpatient Clinics of VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington

The VA Office of Inspector General conducted a review of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System’s Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and other outpatient clinics to evaluate for safe, consistent, and high-quality health care. The review evaluated the clinics’ compliance with selected VHA requirements for alcohol use disorder care, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening, and outpatient documentation. We also randomly selected the North Olympic Peninsula CBOC, Port Angeles, WA, as a representative site and evaluated the environment of care on March 17, 2015. OIG noted opportunities for improvement and made seven recommendations in the following focused review areas: Alcohol Use Disorder Care, HIV Screening, and Environment of Care.