Care in the Community Inspection of South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16) and Selected VA Medical Centers

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Care in the Community healthcare inspection program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of community care processes at eight South Central VA Health Care Network Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 16 medical facilities with a community care program. 

This evaluation focused on six domains:
   •    Leadership and Administration of Community Care
   •    Community Care Diagnostic Imaging Results
   •    Administratively Closed Community Care Consults
   •    Community Care Provider Requests for Additional Services
   •    Care Coordination Activities for Patients Referred for Community Care
   •    Urgent Care in the Community

The OIG issued 13 recommendations for improvement in the six domains:
   •    Leadership and Administration of Community Care
     o    Community care oversight councils
     o    Staffing needs
     o    Patient safety event entry and briefing
     o    Community care document importing
   •    Community Care Diagnostic Imaging Results
     o    Significant findings alert
   •    Administratively Closed Community Care Consults
     o    Medical documents after administrative closure
   •    Community Care Provider Requests for Additional Services
     o    Request processing
     o    Approval and denial letters
   •    Care Coordination Activities for Patients Referred for Community Care
     o    Community Care–Care Coordination Plan note
     o    Appointment confirmation
   •    Urgent Care in the Community
     o    Community Care–Urgent Care Record note