Healthcare Inspection – Pulmonary Medicine Clinic Appointment Cancellations, William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, SC

OIG conducted a review of Pulmonary Medicine Clinic appointment cancellations in calendar years 2013–2014 at the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center (facility), Columbia, SC. The purpose of this inspection was to determine whether facility managers had assessed the history and causes of the appointment cancellations, taken appropriate actions to evaluate and provide follow-up for patients affected by the cancellations, and implemented process improvements to prevent recurrence of similar conditions. We confirmed that facility managers had evaluated the history and contributing causes of the Pulmonary Medicine Clinic appointment cancellations. We confirmed that the facility conducted an evaluation of the patients affected by the Pulmonary Medicine Clinic appointment cancellations. Due to the protected nature of the facility’s review, we are unable to discuss the results. We reviewed 50 patients whose appointments were cancelled and found they had received appropriate follow-up. We confirmed that process improvements including the hiring of pulmonologists as well as the use of non-VA medical care providers were implemented. Facility managers had also augmented the Pulmonary Medicine Clinic staff and implemented processes to improve communication. We made no recommendations.