INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME

Welcome to Patient Care Services and the Surgical Service of the Veterans Health Administration, located in Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC  20420.  Our telephone number is 202-461-7122.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Surgical Service within Medical-Surgical Services in VACO, provides surgical expertise in policy matters and consultations to VHA central and field organizations as well as VA components.  It is responsible for administrative oversight and clinical input into the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and the Continuous Improvement in Cardiac Surgery Program in Patient Care Services.

CENTRAL OFFICE SURGICAL SERVICE

Dr. Ralph G. DePalma, National Director of Surgery, and Dr. Gerald O. McDonald, Senior Consultant in Surgery, provide policy guidance, consultative, advisory, administrative, clinical and technical support in the practice of surgery in 123 VA Medical Centers.  As part of this support effort to assure the highest quality of surgical care, field advisory groups monitor and evaluate care provided to the veteran population we serve.  Special purpose boards analyze co-morbidities to calculate observed/expected outcomes in specialty, general, and cardiac surgery services.

Specialty Boards serve in advisory and consultative capacities to the National Director of Surgery, Chief Consultant, Medical/Surgical Services, Patient Care Services Officer and the Under Secretary as well as the Secretary for Health.  These committees establish guidelines, criteria, and standards and monitor morbidity and mortality outcomes, as well as providing expert opinions in their disciplines.  The services that these boards provide are quality assurance activities with focused reviews generating confidential information protected by 38 U.S.C. 5705 and the VA implementing regulations 38 CFR 17.500-.511 and VHA Directive 2004-051.  They also compare facilities relative to each other on key indicators of quality of care and best practices.  Material generated shall not be disclosed to anyone without authorization as provided only as authorized by section 5705 and implementing regulations.  The statute provides for fines up to $20,000.00 for unauthorized disclosures.