Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the VA Central Iowa Health Care System in Des Moines

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 VA Central Iowa Health Care System, which includes the Des Moines VA Medical Center and multiple outpatient clinics in Iowa. 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 three recommendations for improvement in two areas:1. Medical staff privileging• Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations by providers with equivalent specialized training and similar privileges• Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation activities2. Mental health• Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation completion