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VA Health Care: Patient Safety Could be Enhanced by Improvements in Employment Screening and Physician Privileging Practices

GAO-06-760T Published: Jun 15, 2006. Publicly Released: Jun 15, 2006.
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Highlights

In its March 2004 report, "VA Health Care: Improved Screening of Practitioners Would Reduce Risk to Veterans," GAO-04-566, GAO made recommendations to improve VA's employment screening of practitioners. GAO was asked to testify today on steps VA has taken to improve its employment screening requirements and VA's physician credentialing and privileging processes because of their importance to patient safety. This testimony is based on two GAO reports released today that determined the extent to which (1) VA has taken steps to improve employment screening for practitioners by implementing GAO's 2004 recommendations, (2) VA facilities are in compliance with selected credentialing and privileging requirements for physicians, and (3) VA has internal controls to help ensure the accuracy of privileging information.

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Background investigationsHealth care personnelHiring policiesInternal controlsPersonnel qualificationsPhysiciansProfessional licensesVeteransQuality assuranceCompliance oversight