Combined Assessment Program Summary Report - Evaluation of Medication Oversight and Education in Veterans Health Administration Facilities

The purpose of the evaluation was to determine whether clinicians provided appropriate clinical oversight of and medication education to patients discharged with orders for one of three selected fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this evaluation at 50 Veterans Health Administration medical facilities during Combined Assessment Program reviews performed across the country from October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014. Although OIG noted high compliance with Veterans Health Administration policy and Joint Commission standards in many areas, including assessment and identification of potential learning barriers at admission, provision of written instructions and medication lists to patients at discharge, and documentation of patient or caregiver medication education, OIG identified opportunities for improvement and made two recommendations.