Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the Erie VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
22-00234-200
VISN
1
State
Ohio
Pennsylvania
District
Continental
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program
Major Management Challenges
Benefits for Veterans
Recommendations
5
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary

This Office of Inspector General Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the inpatient and outpatient care provided at the Erie VA Medical Center and associated outpatient clinics in Ohio and Pennsylvania. This evaluation focused on five key operational areas:

•    Leadership and organizational risks

•    Quality, safety, and value

•    Medical staff privileging

•    Environment of care

•    Mental health (emergency department and urgent care center suicide prevention initiatives)

The OIG issued five recommendations for improvement in two areas:

1.    Medical Staff Privileging

•    Professional practice evaluations

o    Completion by providers with equivalent training and similar privileges

o    Consideration of evaluation results by the Medical Executive Committee

•    Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations

o    Incorporating service-specific criteria

o    Basing service chiefs’ reprivileging recommendations on evaluation activities

2.    Mental Health

•    Completion of Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluations

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 providers with equivalent specialized training and similar privileges complete professional practice evaluations of licensed independent practitioners.

No. 2
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 service chiefs incorporate service-specific criteria in Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations of licensed independent practitioners.

No. 3
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 service chiefs’ reprivileging recommendations are based, in part, on Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation activities.

No. 4
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 the Medical Executive Committee considers professional practice evaluation results in decisions to recommend privileges.

No. 5
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures staff complete Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluations.