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Report File
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Other Participating OIGs
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Department of Veterans Affairs
Components
Veterans Health Administration
Report Number
23-00016-132
Report Description

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the quality of care delivered in the inpatient and outpatient settings of the Syracuse VA Medical Center, which includes multiple outpatient clinics in New York. This evaluation focused on five key operational areas:• Leadership and organizational risks• Quality, safety, and value• Medical staff privileging• Environment of care• Mental health (suicide prevention initiatives)The OIG issued 12 recommendations for improvement in four areas:1. Quality, safety, and value• Peer review committee • Peer review level reassignments • Review of data by medical executive committee2. Medical staff privileging• Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation completion• Specialty-specific criteria for professional practice evaluations3. Environment of care• Environment of care inspections• Safe and clean patient care areas• Mental health inpatient unit: • Panic and over-the-door alarm testing • Maintaining a safe environment • Ceiling tiles checked semiannually• Biomedical staff inspection and testing of medical equipment• VISN oversight of biomedical program4. Mental health• Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation completion

Report Type
Inspection / Evaluation
Location

NY
United States

Number of Recommendations
10
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0

Open Recommendations

This report has 2 open recommendations.
Recommendation Number Significant Recommendation Recommended Questioned Costs Recommended Funds for Better Use Additional Details
03 No $0 $0

The Chief of Staff ensures service chiefs complete Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations prior to reprivileging to ensure continuous delivery of quality care.

04 No $0 $0

The Chief of Staff ensures service chiefs use specialty-specific criteria in the professional practice evaluations of licensed independent practitioners.

Department of Veterans Affairs OIG

United States