Combined Assessment Program Review of the Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
15-00602-425
VISN
State
Iowa
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program
Recommendations
3
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 36 employees. This review focused on eight operational activities. The facility complied with selected standards in the following six activities: (1) quality management, (2) environment of care, (3) coordination of care, (4) computed tomography radiation monitoring, (5) surgical complexity, and (6) emergency airway management. OIG made recommendations for improvement in the following two activities (1) medication management and (2) advance directives.

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 pharmacy personnel conduct and document monthly medication storage area inspections and that facility managers monitor compliance.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that employees ask inpatients whether they would like to discuss creating, changing, and/or revoking advance directives and that facility managers monitor compliance.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that employees hold advance directive discussions requested by inpatients and document the discussions and that facility managers monitor compliance.