VA Health Care: Actions in Response to VA's 1989 Mortality Study
HRD-91-26
Published: Nov 27, 1990. Publicly Released: Nov 27, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) actions to address a June 1989 report about quality-of-care problems associated with deaths in several VA medical centers during fiscal year (FY) 1986, focusing on whether VA: (1) appropriately conducted its follow-up validation methodology; (2) completed the follow-up as described in the mortality study; (3) took proper actions as a result of the follow-up; and (4) needed to take other actions to ensure that it identifies quality-of-care problems and takes corrective actions.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| As part of its continuing oversight of VA health care issues, the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs may wish to discuss with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the results of VA efforts to compare the quality of care provided in medical and surgical units in primarily psychiatric hospitals with that provided in medical and surgical acute care hospitals. |
Closed – Implemented
|
Committee staff stated that continuing discussions with VA officials regarding this issue have been held as part of the broader quality of health care issue. |
| As part of its continuing oversight of VA health care issues, the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs may wish to discuss with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the need for central office staff to review the results of future quality assurance studies for possible systemwide applications and disseminate appropriate information to all medical centers. |
Closed – Implemented
|
Committee staff stated that continuing discussions with VA officials regarding this issue have been held as part of the broader quality of health care issue. |
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Topics
Health care servicesHealth statisticsHospital administrationMedical recordsMental care facilitiesMortalityQuality assuranceVeterans hospitalsQuality of careHealth care centers