Federal Reports

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated an inspection to assess allegations of deficient practices within the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital (facility) in Hines, Illinois, as well as the alleged failure of SPS leaders to provide adequate oversight, quality control, education, and training to SPS staff. The OIG did not substantiate that dirty instruments were sent to the operating room, that endoscopes were not being cleaned properly, that loaner trays were not reprocessed appropriately, or that SPS standard operating procedures were chaotic and incomplete. The OIG found no reported deficiencies in reprocessing of reusable medical equipment for operating room use during the period of the inspection. The OIG also assessed the status of facility action plans from April 2021, which addressed prior SPS deficiencies, and found that the facility had implemented and sustained process improvement actions. The OIG did not substantiate that SPS leaders failed to provide adequate oversight, quality control, education, and training to SPS staff or that SPS leaders and education and training staff lacked appropriate knowledge to provide staff training. SPS leaders and education and training staff implemented relevant training plans and assessed staff competencies in accordance with VHA policy. SPS leaders conducted oversight of staff competencies per VHA policy.Although the OIG noted instability within SPS leadership positions, facility leaders worked with Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) subject matter experts to ensure continuity of leadership when vacancies existed. The OIG learned of challenges related to workplace culture within SPS, which may have factored into unsubstantiated negative perceptions of service leadership.The OIG determined that both the VISN and facility leaders maintained adequate oversight, identifying and taking actions in response to concerns, and providing support for quality improvement efforts within SPS at the facility.

Our objective was to determine to what extent CBP adheres to its policies and procedures for resolving facial biometric discrepancies when confirming travelers’ identities at airports.

The objective was to determine the extent to which DHS is positioned to prevent and reduce domestic terrorism in the United States. We determined that DHS has taken steps to help the United States counter terrorism, but those efforts have not always been consistent.

Our objective was to assess the Postal Service’s justification for and use of funds received under the CARES Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and associated disclosure requirements.

For our final report on our audit of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (the Department’s) Business Applications Solution program (the Program), our objective was to assess the Department’s management and implementation of the Program. To meet our objective, we determined the extent to which the Program implemented four selected best practice areas—business process reengineering, requirements management, program monitoring, and risk management—and identified opportunities for improvement. We found the following: I. the Program continues to lack a sound business process reengineering plan; II. the Program should address weaknesses in its requirements management plans and processes; and III. the Program should enhance its risk management practices.