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Healthcare Inspection – Alleged Substandard Prostate Cancer Screening, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, CO

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
14-03833-385
VISN
State
Colorado
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Hotline Healthcare Inspection
Recommendations
0
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
At the request of Congressman Mike Coffman, the VA Office of Inspector General Office of Healthcare Inspections conducted an inspection to determine the quality of care provided to a patient who alleged that substandard prostate cancer screening delayed his diagnosis of prostate cancer at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, CO. We did not substantiate that the patient received substandard prostate cancer screening. We found that guidelines for prostate cancer screening vary. During the time the patient was followed by Veterans Health Administration (VHA) providers, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing without a digital (finger) rectal examination (DRE) for prostate cancer screening of an asymptomatic patient from 2010 to present was consistent with VHA guidance, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and 2013 American Urological Association guidelines, but differed from the 2009 American Urological Association Best Practice Statement. Test results in September 2011 showed that the patient had an elevated PSA level. A DRE performed in March 2012 revealed the patient had an enlarged prostate. Further testing later in March 2012 showed the PSA level was within normal range. The patient had a urology visit in April, a prostate biopsy in May, and a referral to radiation oncology in June 2012. The patient was reportedly cancer free at the time of this review. We made no recommendations.
Recommendations (0)