Review of Community Based Outpatient Clinics and Other Outpatient Clinics of Amarillo VA Health Care System, Amarillo, Texas

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
16-00028-337
VISN
State
New Mexico
Texas
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program
Recommendations
10
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review of the Amarillo VA 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 home telehealth enrollment, outpatient lab results management, and post-traumatic stress disorder care. We also randomly selected the Childress VA Clinic, Childress, TX, as a representative site and evaluated the environment of care on March 22, 2016. OIG noted opportunities for improvement and made 10 recommendations in the following focused review areas: Home Telehealth Enrollment, Outpatient Lab Results Management, and Environment of Care.

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 the clinic manager ensures the risk of infection is minimized when storing and disposing of medical waste at the Childress VA Clinic.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that the clinic manager ensures that exit routes are unobstructed at the Childress VA Clinic.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that the Facility Director ensures the installation and use of an alarm system or panic buttons in high-risk areas at the Childress VA Clinic.
No. 4
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that the Facility Director ensures the installation and use of an alarm system or panic buttons in high-risk areas at the Childress VA Clinic.
No. 5
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that staff at the Childress VA Clinic protect and secure patient-identifiable information.
No. 6
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that the Childress VA Clinic manager ensures that the information technology server closet is maintained according to information technology safety and security standards.
No. 7
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that clinicians document the Home Telehealth enrollment process prior to the entry of monthly monitoring notes.
No. 8
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that clinicians consistently notify patients of their laboratory results within the timeframe set by local policy.
No. 9
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that clinicians consistently document in the electronic health record all attempts to communicate with the patients regarding their laboratory results.
No. 10
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that clinicians consistently provide and document interventions for clinically significant abnormal laboratory results.