The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection to assess clinic cancellation practices at a VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System (system) mental health clinic in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The OIG found that mental health leaders and a social work supervisor used a standard clinical disposition process to address the needs of a social work mental health provider’s (the provider’s) patients and transition patients to alternate appointments or treatment following the provider’s sudden resignation. Mental health leaders and a social work supervisor completed the clinical disposition process before advanced medical support assistants canceled patients’ previously scheduled appointment(s) with the provider. Upon review of the electronic health records and patient safety data, the OIG did not identify any concerns or adverse outcomes related to the cancellations.
The OIG concluded that the chief of mental health and the chief of social work did not notify the Chief of Staff (COS) to seek approval for urgent cancellations of the provider’s clinic as required by the system clinic cancellation policy. Ultimately, due to mental health and social work leaders’ communication failures, the COS could not approve the clinic cancellations or assess the need for, and potential allocation of, resources; nor did it allow for COS evaluation of the potential patient impact.
An additional concern was identified regarding the system’s failure to include social work providers assigned to mental health clinics during the system-initiated review of short notice clinic cancellations.
The OIG made two recommendations to the System Director to (1) evaluate the system clinic cancellation policy and COS notification of urgent clinic cancellations and to (2) include social work mental health provider data in the system review of short notice clinical cancellations within mental health clinics.
IN
United States
