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Report File
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Department of Veterans Affairs
Components
Veterans Health Administration
Report Number
24-01827-57
Report Description

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) administers healthcare services through a nationwide network of 18 regional systems referred to as Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). This Office of Inspector General (OIG) report describes the results of a VISN-level oversight evaluation of credentialing and privileging processes at facilities within the VISNs. The OIG inspected VISNs 7, 8, 12, 15, 20, and 23 from December 5, 2022, through February 14, 2024. Specifically, the OIG determined whether VISNs complied with the following requirements:
   •    Senior strategic business partners, VISN human resources officers, and chief medical officers review licensure information for practitioners with a history of adverse licensure actions
   •    Practitioners with equivalent specialized training and similar privileges complete professional practice evaluations for solo and two-deep practitioners and facilities’ chiefs of staff
   •    VISN directors and privacy officers review evidence files for state licensing board reporting
   •    Chief medical officers review each facility annually and oversee credentialing and privileging processes
 

The OIG issued four recommendations for improvement:
   •    External practitioners with equivalent training and similar privileges complete timely evaluations for
      o    Solo and two-deep practitioners
      o    Facility chiefs of staff
   •    Review of state licensing board reporting processes for compliance with VHA policy
   •    The Chief Medical Officer oversees facilities’ annual self-assessment and ensures responses reflect accurate data

Report Type
Review
Location

AL
United States

AK
United States

AR
United States

FL
United States

GA
United States

ID
United States

Number of Recommendations
4
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
Report updated under NDAA 5274
No

Open Recommendations

This report has 4 open recommendations.
Recommendation Number Significant Recommendation Recommended Questioned Costs Recommended Funds for Better Use Additional Details
01 No $0 $0

The Under Secretary for Health, in conjunction with Veterans Integrated Service Network directors and facility senior leaders, ensures an external practitioner with equivalent specialized training and similar privileges completes solo and two-deep practitioners professional practice evaluations in a timely manner.

02 No $0 $0

The Under Secretary for Health, in conjunction with Veterans Integrated Service Network chief medical officers and facility senior leaders, ensures an external practitioner with equivalent specialized training and similar privileges completes Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations of chiefs of staff in each facility in a timely manner.

03 No $0 $0

The Under Secretary for Health, in conjunction with Veterans Integrated Service Network directors, reviews state licensing board reporting processes at the network level to ensure compliance with Veterans Health Administration policy.

04 No $0 $0

The Under Secretary for Health, in conjunction with the Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 Director, ensures the Chief Medical Officer oversees each facilitys annual self-assessment and confirms responses reflect accurate data.

Department of Veterans Affairs OIG

United States