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Healthcare Inspection – Credentialing and Privileging Concerns, Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, SC

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
14-05078-393
VISN
State
South Carolina
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Hotline Healthcare Inspection
Recommendations
1
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
OIG conducted an inspection to assess the merit of allegations received from Senator Bernie Sanders, then-Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, regarding provider credentialing and privileging concerns at the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center (facility), Columbia, SC. We substantiated that a cardiologist was interpreting non-invasive vascular studies without being granted privileges to do so by the facility; however, the cardiologist had the required education and training and was subsequently granted the required privileges. We substantiated that the standards of the American College of Radiology and Intersocietal Accreditation Commission were not used for the interpretation and reporting of non-invasive vascular imaging studies. However, the Veterans Health Administration does not require adherence to these standards, and the facility was compliant with VA National Radiology Program Standard Operating Procedures. We did not substantiate that a community based outpatient clinic ultrasound technician did not have the required training and competencies to perform non-invasive vascular studies. We recommended that the Facility Director ensure that provider privileges reflect current practice. The Veterans Integrated Service Network and Facility Directors concurred with our recommendation and provided an acceptable action plan.

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 provider privileges reflect current practice.