Breadcrumb

Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
21-00260-232
VISN
1
State
Massachusetts
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program
Report Topic
Care Coordination
Suicide Prevention
Major Management Challenges
Healthcare Services
Recommendations
7
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report provides a focused evaluation of the quality of care delivered in the inpatient and outpatient settings of the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans’ Hospital and three outpatient clinics in Massachusetts. The inspection covered key clinical and administrative processes that are associated with promoting quality care. It focused on Leadership and Organizational Risks; COVID-19 Pandemic Readiness and Response; Quality, Safety, and Value; Registered Nurse Credentialing; Mental Health: Emergency Department and Urgent Care Center Suicide Risk Screening and Evaluation; Care Coordination: Inter-facility Transfers; and High-Risk Processes: Management of Disruptive and Violent Behavior. The executive leadership team had worked together for approximately eight months at the time of the OIG virtual review. Survey data revealed opportunities for the Chief of Staff to improve employee perceptions of leaders and the workplace, and the Associate Director Nursing and Patient Care Services to improve employee feelings of respect. The OIG’s review of the hospital’s accreditation findings, sentinel events, and disclosures did not identify any substantial organizational risk factors. Executive leaders were knowledgeable about selected data used in Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning models and should continue to take actions to sustain and improve performance. The OIG issued seven recommendations for improvement in three areas: (1) Mental Health • Suicide prevention training (2) Care Coordination • Transfer form completion • Medical record transmission • Nurse-to-nurse communication (3) High-Risk Processes • Disruptive behavior committee meeting attendance • Disruptive behavior and threat assessment training

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)
The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures staff complete mandatory suicide safety plan training prior to developing suicide safety plans.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Chief of Staff and Associate Director Nursing and Patient Care Services evaluate and determine any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensure that the referring physician completes all required elements of the VA Inter-Facility Transfer Form or facility-defined equivalent prior to patient transfer.

No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Chief of Staff and Associate Director Nursing and Patient Care Services evaluate and determine any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensure that staff send all pertinent medical records to the receiving facility during inter-facility transfers.

No. 4
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Associate Director Nursing and Patient Care Services determines the reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that nurse-to-nurse communication occurs between the sending and receiving facility.

No. 5
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
The Chief of Staff and Associate Director Nursing and Patient Care Services evaluate and determine any additional reasons for noncompliance and make certain that required members attend Disruptive Behavior Committee meetings.
No. 6
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Hospital Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures employees complete all required prevention and management of disruptive behavior training based on the risk level assigned to their work areas.

No. 7
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
The Hospital Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures Employee Threat Assessment Team members complete required training.