VA Health Care: Efforts to Assure Quality of Care in State Homes
HRD-90-40
Published: Nov 27, 1989. Publicly Released: Nov 27, 1989.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO determined whether the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): (1) inspected state homes frequently enough to evaluate the care veterans received; and (2) used adequate procedures to assess the quality of care provided in state homes. GAO also determined whether VA had implemented three GAO recommendations made in 1981 to: (1) revise its state home inspection standards to provide more specificity and guidance; (2) review VA inspection reports on state homes to ensure standards compliance; and (3) develop standards in surgical care and related services for state home hospital units.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director to require VA regional offices to ensure that medical centers adhere fully to current VA inspection requirements, particularly the requirements to follow up on corrective action agreed to be taken by the state homes. |
Closed – Implemented
VA has implemented a mechanism for regional director staff to use to monitor the state home inspection activities. The mechanism requires that VAMC provide VA Central Office with status reports and action plans for the correction of any deficiencies cited in inspection reports. These reports and plans are due 6 months after the inspections are done.
|
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Evaluation criteriaEvaluation methodsstate relationsHealth care servicesInspectionInstitution accreditationNoncomplianceNursing homesState programsVeterans hospitalsQuality of care