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 Maryland Health Care System, which includes the Baltimore VA Medical Center (central Baltimore), Loch Raven VA Medical Center (northern Baltimore), Perry Point VA Medical Center (Perry Point), and multiple outpatient clinics in Maryland. 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 five recommendations for improvement in three areas:1. Medical staff privileging• Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation recommendations and results2. Environment of care• Biohazard sign posting• Safe and clean patient care areas• Panic alarm testing in the inpatient mental health unit3. Mental health• Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation completion
MD
United States
