Healthcare Inspection – Alleged Mold and Environment of Care Concerns in the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Units, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia

OIG conducted an inspection in response to complaints about the environment of care and the possible presence of mold in the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders (SCI/D) units at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center (facility), Richmond, VA. The complainant alleged that chronic cleanliness issues were associated with patient reports of chronic respiratory problems and lost time from work for SCI/D staff; facility managers did not act to rule out the presence of black mold; and, indoor air potentially contained high levels of mold in the SCI/D units, and senior leadership concealed this information. We did not substantiate the allegations. We found that the facility monitored cleanliness and cleaning processes and did not identify chronic cleanliness issues in the SCI/D units. We did not confirm effects on respiratory conditions of SCI/D patients or lost time for staff related to cleanliness issues in the environment of care. The facility sampled indoor air quality in March 2014 and acted on the mold level from one sample although no limits or standards for mold levels were established. The facility communicated air sampling results and actions taken to Veterans Integrated Service Network leaders and external partners. We made no recommendations.