Federal Reports

Semiannual Report to Congress: October 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023

Semiannual Report

The Office of Inspector General is tasked with ensuring efficiency, accountability, and integrity in the U.S. Postal Service. We also have the distinct mission of helping to maintain confidence in the mail and postal system, as well as to improve the Postal Service's bottom line. We use audits and investigations to help protect the integrity of the Postal Service. Our Semiannual Report to Congress presents a snapshot of the work we did to fulfill our mission for the six-month period ending March 31, 2023. Links are provided to the full reports featured in this report, as well as to the appendices. Our Congressional two-pager provides readers with easy access to facts and information, as well as succinct summaries of the work by area.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Vet Center Inspection Program provides a focused evaluation of aspects of care delivered at vet centers. This report focuses on North Atlantic district 1 zone 3 and four selected vet centers: Center City Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia, and Scranton in Pennsylvania; and Huntington in West Virginia. The OIG inspection focused on five review areas: leadership and organizational risks; quality reviews; suicide prevention; consultation, supervision, and training; and environment of care.Generally, district leaders had a good understanding of quality improvement principles and implemented quality improvement programs in response to VA All Employee Survey results. District 1 zone 3 Vet Center Service Customer Feedback survey results were above the national average in all areas except convenience of appointment scheduling and vet center location.The OIG conducted an analysis of vet center quality reviews required to ensure compliance with policies and procedures. The OIG made six recommendations for clinical and administrative quality reviews and one recommendation for morbidity and mortality reviews.The suicide prevention review included a zone-wide evaluation of electronic client records, and a focused review of the four selected vet centers. The OIG issued nine recommendations—two specific to electronic client records and seven for selected vet centers’ suicide prevention and intervention processes.The consultation, supervision, and training review evaluated the four selected vet centers. The OIG identified concerns with external clinical consultation, supervision, and training, and issued five recommendations.The environment of care review evaluated the four selected vet centers. The OIG made three recommendations.The OIG issued a total of 24 recommendations for improvement to the District Director.

The Office of the Inspector General conducted a review of TVA Police and Emergency Management’s (TVAP&EM) organization to identify factors that could impact TVAP&EM’s organizational effectiveness. During interviews, TVAP&EM personnel revealed positive interactions within and outside TVAP&EM. However, we identified issues that have, or could, affect accomplishment of the TVAP&EM mission, if not addressed. These issues included (1) engagement risks, (2) employee concerns related to inconsistent practices within the organization, (3) risks related to TVAP&EM’s mobile software tool, and (4) risks to personnel security. We also identified an opportunity to strengthen risk assessment within TVAP&EM.