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Healthcare Inspection – Teleradiology Concerns, VA Roseburg Healthcare System, Roseburg, Oregon

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
14-04898-290
VISN
State
Oregon
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Hotline Healthcare Inspection
Recommendations
2
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
OIG conducted an inspection to assess the merit of allegations made by a confidential complainant regarding radiology services at the VA Roseburg Healthcare System (system), Roseburg, OR and teleradiology services with the Alaska VA Healthcare System, Anchorage, AK and the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center, Walla Walla, WA. We substantiated the allegation that the reading of teleradiology studies for Anchorage patients by system radiologists occurred prior to both sites signing a Memorandum of Understanding. We found no evidence of delays in radiologic interpretation, misinterpretation of studies, or reports of patient harm. We did not substantiate that delays in radiologic readings occurred for Roseburg patients as a result of providing teleradiology services to Anchorage and Walla Walla. We substantiated that the system lacked an integrated peer review process for radiology. The system’s Radiology Service level peer review program was not an integrated part of the system’s overall peer review program for Quality Management. This could hinder the system’s ability to detect misinterpretations of radiologic studies, if they occurred. We did not substantiate that the system improperly credentialed and privileged teleradiology providers. All four of the system’s staff radiologists providing teleradiology services were appropriately credentialed and privileged. We made two recommendations.

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 Veterans Integrated Service Network Director conduct a quality review of the imaging study interpretations completed during the time of the unsigned Memorandum of Understanding referenced in this report.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended that the System Director strengthen processes to ensure the Radiology Services is fully integrated into the system's formal peer review program.