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Healthcare Facility Inspection of the VA Louisville Healthcare System in Kentucky

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
24-03205-235
VISN
9
State
Indiana
Kentucky
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Healthcare Facility Inspection
Report Topic
Patient Safety
Supplies and Equipment
Major Management Challenges
Healthcare Services
Recommendations
13
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Healthcare Facility Inspection program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the care provided at the VA Louisville Healthcare System in Kentucky. This evaluation focused on five key content domains:
•    Culture
•    Environment of care
•    Patient safety
•    Primary care
•    Veteran-centered safety net

The OIG issued 13 recommendations for VA to correct identified deficiencies in four domains:
1.    Culture
•    Telephone system improvements
2.    Environment of care
•    Exit signs
•    Detectable warning surfaces
•    Clean and safe patient care areas
•    Electrical cord management
•    Biological hazard signs
•    Biohazardous waste disposal
•    Liquid nitrogen use and storage
•    Environment of care trends, improvement plans, and outcome measures
3.    Patient safety
•    Service-level workflows for test result communications
•    Test result communication policy
•    Test result communication performance metrics
4.    Primary care
•    Panel sizes

Open Recommendation Image, SquareOpenClosed and Implemented Recommendation Image, CheckmarkClosed-ImplementedNot Implemented Recommendation Image, X character'Closed-Not Implemented
No. 1
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Executive Director oversees improvements to the telephone system to ensure identified vulnerabilities are addressed.

No. 2
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Facility leaders ensure exit signs lead to an exit.

No. 3
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Facility leaders install detectable warning surfaces anywhere a walkway transitions into a roadway.

No. 4
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Executive Director ensures staff keep patient care areas clean and safe.

No. 5
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Facility leaders ensure staff conduct a risk assessment for electrical cord management to identify and implement any needed improvements.

No. 6
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Executive Director ensures staff post biological hazard signs on doors where potentially infectious materials may be present and store clean and dirty items separately.

No. 7
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Executive Director ensures prompt disposal of biohazardous waste.

No. 8
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Facility leaders ensure staff conduct a risk assessment on liquid nitrogen use and storage, to include devices in exam rooms, and implement changes accordingly.

No. 9
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Executive Director ensures the Comprehensive Environment of Care Committee identifies at least one facility-specific environment of care trend and establishes a performance improvement plan, including outcome measures, to address it.

No. 10
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Facility leaders ensure staff develop service-level workflows for the communication of test results for each service.

No. 11
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Facility leaders review the test result communication policy to ensure it complies with the VHA requirement for communicating critical results outside of normal business hours.

No. 12
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Facility leaders develop a formal process for staff to track performance metrics for test result communication, implement improvement actions, and report compliance to an appropriate oversight committee.

No. 13
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Facility leaders manage panel sizes to ensure patients have timely access to high-quality care.