Breadcrumb

Healthcare Inspection – Delays for Outpatient Specialty Procedures, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, Texas

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
12-03594-10
VISN
State
Texas
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Hotline Healthcare Inspection
Recommendations
3
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
The VA Office of Inspector General Office of Healthcare Inspections conducted an inspection to determine the validity of allegations regarding patient care delays at the VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX. A complainant alleged that a dialysis patient waited more than 4 months for permanent vascular access and that ambulatory monitoring for a cardiac patient was delayed 3 months. We substantiated that these and other patients experienced excessive wait times. For 5 recent referrals for vascular access, the time from referral to completion of a procedure was 89–138 days. For 213 patients scheduled for ambulatory cardiac monitoring, the average wait time was 68 days. We also found that clinicians did not review referral requests, consultation reports were not linked to requests in the electronic health record as required, and that appointment dates requested by patients for vascular and cardiac procedures were incorrectly recorded by scheduling staff. We recommended that the Facility Director ensure that patients receive timely vascular and cardiac care, that providers document review of consults in the electronic health record and link results to consult requests and that staff comply with VHA policy for scheduling outpatient appointments.

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 Facility Director ensure that patients receive timely vascular and cardiology care and that compliance is monitored.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that the Facility Director ensure that providers document review of consults in the EHR and link results to consult requests and that compliance is monitored.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that the Facility Director ensure that staff comply with VHA policy for scheduling outpatient appointments and that compliance is monitored.