Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the inpatient and outpatient care provided at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center and multiple outpatient clinics in Pennsylvania. This evaluation focused on five key operational areas:• Leadership and organizational risks• Quality, safety, and value• Medical staff privileging• Environment of care• Mental health (emergency department and urgent care center suicide prevention initiatives)The OIG issued four recommendations for improvement in three areas:1. Medical Staff Privileging• Incorporate service-specific criteria in Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations2. Environment of Care• Conduct comprehensive environment of care inspections at the required frequency• Document response times for panic alarm testing3. Mental Health• Complete Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluations within the required time frame