VA Needs To Improve Its Quality Assurance Program for Medical Supply and Equipment Items
PLRD-82-44
Published: Feb 23, 1982. Publicly Released: Feb 23, 1982.
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Highlights
The Veterans Administration (VA) Marketing Center is a national purchasing activity, providing VA medical centers an opportunity to obtain supplies and equipment through a centrally managed national depot distribution system. GAO reviewed the Marketing Center to assess the adequacy of the VA quality assurance program.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Assistant Deputy Administrator for Procurement and Supply to develop a quality assurance program that provides for dependable independent testing of products purchased for depot stock. GAO is not implying that each medical supply and equipment item purchased should be subjected to quality testing or that all items should be subjected to the same level of testing. However, procedures are needed to determine when testing is desirable, to identify what product characteristics require testing, and to ensure that tests conducted are properly controlled. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Assistant Deputy Administrator for Procurement and Supply to discontinue using purchase descriptions until they have been coordinated with users and suppliers and modified to provide for adequate quality control. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Assistant Deputy Administrator for Procurement and Supply to assign responsibiity for the quality complaint system to an entity that is independent from the marketing divisions and follow up to make sure that future medical center complaints are resolved promptly. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
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Topics
InspectionMedical equipmentMedical suppliesProduct safetyProgram evaluationQuality assuranceQuality controlStandards evaluationTestingHealth centers