Delays in Urological Care and Alleged Lack of Non-VA Care Funding at the Beckley VA Medical Center, West Virginia

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection at the Beckley VA Medical Center (Beckley), West Virginia, regarding a complainant’s allegations that delays in urological care, including kidney surgery, and an increase in a kidney lesion’s size occurred that resulted in an adverse clinical impact to a patient’s urological health. The OIG further evaluated if other Beckley patients experienced delays in urological care that resulted in adverse clinical impacts, and if Beckley lacked funding for its non-VA care programs. The OIG substantiated that the patient experienced delays in urological care, including kidney surgery, and that a kidney lesion increased in size; however, the lesion size was not within the range that necessitated immediate surgery or intervention. OIG staff found that the patient’s care was monitored by providers who discussed the patient’s symptoms with the patient and other providers. The OIG did not find that delays caused an adverse clinical impact to the patient’s urological health. The OIG also identified delays in scheduling urology consults for the Beckley Outpatient Urology Clinic and non-VA care programs. OIG staff determined that none of the reviewed patients experienced an adverse clinical impact to their urological health due to a delay in the consult process. Although a Beckley non-VA care staff member informed the patient that Beckley lacked funding for referral to non-VA care, the staff member made this statement in error, and Beckley leaders addressed and corrected the error. Beckley had sufficient funding, and providers routinely referred patients to other VA and non-VA facilities. The OIG made one recommendation related to reviewing consult management practices and ensuring consult timeliness.