Report Summary
Title: | Healthcare Inspection – Delay in Care of a Lung Cancer Patient, Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, Arizona | |
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Report Number: | 14-00875-325 |
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Issue Date: | 9/30/2016 | |
City/State: | Phoenix, AZ |
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VA Office: | Veterans Health Administration (VHA) |
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Report Author: | Office of Healthcare Inspections |
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Report Type: | Hotline Healthcare Inspection |
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Release Type: | Unrestricted | |
Summary: |
At the request of Senator Jeff Flake, OIG conducted an inspection to determine the merit of allegations regarding a delay in treating a patient diagnosed with lung cancer at the Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ. We substantiated a delay between the diagnosis of the lung cancer and treatment. We could not determine whether this delay impacted the final outcome. We substantiated a delay in identification of symptoms of cancer metastasis; however, we did not substantiate a delay in treatment once the brain metastasis was discovered. We identified lack of patient education and primary care provider involvement in the coordination of subsequent cancer-related specialty appointments as factors contributing to delays in care. |