Recommendations
2065
| ID | Report Number | Report Title | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-06501-158 | Attorney Misconduct, Inadequate Supervision, and Mismanagement in the Office of General Counsel | Administrative Investigation | ||
1 The Acting VA General Counsel confers with the Designated Agency Ethics Official and the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration to determine whether any remaining administrative action should be taken with respect to the Attorney’s conduct.
Closure Date:
2 The Acting VA General Counsel confers with the Designated Agency Ethics Official to determine whether VA should take any further action with respect to the Attorney’s representation of private parties in matters currently pending in U.S. federal court in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest to address any other government ethics issues.
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3 The Acting VA General Counsel determines what, if any, obligation the Office of General Counsel has with respect to reporting the Attorney’s conduct to the relevant disciplinary authority under Rule 8.3 of the New York Rules of Professional Conduct or any other governing authority.
Closure Date:
4 The Acting VA General Counsel determines the appropriate action to take, if any, with respect to Mr. Hogan’s failure in his official duties to take appropriate action.
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5 The Acting VA General Counsel determines the appropriate action to take, if any, with respect to the Deputy Chief Counsel’s failure in his official duties to take appropriate action.
Closure Date:
6 The Acting VA General Counsel confers with VA’s Designated Agency Ethics Official to revise its November 8, 2019 memorandum. The revision should at a minimum (a) emphasize all criminal conflict of interest statutes relevant to outside employment, (b) ensure appropriate time for supervisory review of confidential financial disclosure reports to identify potential conflicts or other issues, (c) identify the official responsible for ensuring that the annual risk assessment focused on outside activities is completed on an annual basis to assist Chief Counsel in identifying employees with outside employment, (d) engage employees with outside employment in formal discussions regarding applicable ethical rules and the consequences of noncompliance, and (e) document the annual meetings and formal discussions they have with employees.
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7 The Acting VA General Counsel confers with VA’s Designated Agency Ethics Official to determine whether VA should consider implementing a supplemental agency regulation requiring VA employees, or any category of employees, to disclose and obtain prior approval before engaging in any outside activities for which they receive compensation in accordance with 5 C.F.R. § 2635.803.
Closure Date:
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| 18-06292-117 | Overtime Use in the Office of Community Care to Process Non-VA Care Claims Not Effectively Monitored | Audit | ||
1 The Office of Community Care completes a review of the OIG identified employees who had no claims processing production or activity in the Fee Basis Claims System during overtime hours to determine whether the employees’ conduct requires disciplinary or other corrective action, as appropriate.
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2 The Office of Community Care establishes and implements controls for Payment Operations and Management supervisors to effectively monitor and assess staff productivity during overtime hours to mitigate the risk of overtime abuse.
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3 The Payment Operations and Management directorate clarifies and communicates nurse productivity standards and requirements.
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4 The Payment Operations and Management directorate develops and implements formal guidance for its staff on the appropriate use of overtime, and the controls needed for monitoring compliance.
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| 19-06870-175 | Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System in Topeka | Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program | ||
1 The System Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures specific action items are documented in Quality, Safety, and Value Board minutes when problems or opportunities for improvement are identified.
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2 The Chief of Staff determines the reason(s) for noncompliance and ensures that peer reviewers consistently use at least one of the nine aspects of care for evaluations and address the initial screener’s concern.
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3 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that all applicable deaths within 24 hours of admission are peer reviewed.
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4 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures that final peer reviews are completed within 120 calendar days from the date it is determined a peer review is required and any necessary extensions are approved in writing by the System Director.
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5 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that a summary of the Peer Review Committee’s analyses is reviewed quarterly by the Medical Executive Board.
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6 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures that physician utilization management advisors consistently document their decisions in the National Utilization Management Integration database.
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7 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures all required representatives consistently participate in interdisciplinary reviews of utilization management data.
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8 The System Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures that root cause analyses include all required review elements and be properly documented in the VHA Patient Safety Information System.
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9 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures clinical managers define in advance, communicate, and document expectations for focused professional practice evaluations in the provider profiles.
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10 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that service chiefs include the minimum required gastroenterology- and pathology-specific criteria for focused professional practice evaluations of licensed independent practitioners.
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11 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures that reprivileging decisions are based on service-specific ongoing professional practice evaluation data.
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12 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures that providers with similar training and privileges complete ongoing professional practice evaluations of licensed independent practitioners.
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13 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that Medical Executive Board meeting minutes consistently reflect the review of professional practice evaluation results in the decision to recommend continuation of privileges.
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14 The System Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that provider exit review forms are completed within seven calendar days of licensed healthcare professionals’ departing the healthcare system and include the signature of the first- or second-line supervisor in the properly designated area.
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15 The Associate Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures employees’ ability to access safety data sheet information.
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16 The Associate Director determines the reasons for noncompliance and ensures that clean/sterile storerooms are secured.
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17 The Associate Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures damaged wheelchairs are repaired or removed from service.
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18 The Associate Director determines the reason(s) for noncompliance and ensures areas are consistently stocked with medical supplies typically needed to meet patient care needs.
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19 The Assistant Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that panic alarms are tested and that deficiencies identified from the testing are addressed, including staff education.
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20 The Associate Director determines the reason(s) for noncompliance and ensures that deficiencies observed during Comprehensive Environment of Care Rounds are correctly documented in the Comprehensive Environment of Care Assessment and Compliance Tool and followed until completion.
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21 The Associate Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures that Wyandotte County VA Clinic managers maintain a safe and clean environment by addressing the deficiencies identified by the inspection.
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22 The Associate Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures that personally identifiable information is protected when transporting information or specimens from the clinics.
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23 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that healthcare providers consistently conduct urine drug testing as required for patients on long-term opioid therapy.
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24 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that healthcare providers obtain and document informed consent consistently for patients who are initiating long-term opioid therapy.
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25 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures healthcare providers follow up with patients within three months after initiating long-term opioid therapy.
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26 The System Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that the Suicide Prevention Coordinator ensures completion of at least five outreach activities each month.
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27 The Chief of Staff evaluates and determines reasons for noncompliance and ensures that mental health providers consistently contact or attempt to contact patients flagged as high risk for suicide who miss mental health or substance abuse appointments and properly document those efforts.
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28 The Chief of Staff evaluates and reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that the mental health provider and the Suicide Prevention Coordinator collaborate to determine next steps for patients flagged as high risk for suicide when attempted contact is unsuccessful after missed mental health or substance abuse appointments.
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29 The Chief of Staff determines the reason(s) for noncompliance and ensures that Suicide Prevention Safety Plans include an assessment of patients’ access to opioids and a discussion of safety and overdose risks.
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30 The System Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures that each CBOC has at least two designated women’s health primary care providers or arrangements for leave coverage when CBOCs have only one designated provider.
Closure Date:
31 The System Director evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that required members consistently attend the Women Veterans Health Committee that meets at least quarterly and reports to executive leaders.
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32 The Associate Director for Patient Care Services evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that the Sterile Processing Service Chief maintains an accurate file for all reusable equipment that includes current manufacturers’ instructions for use.
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33 The Associate Director for Patient Care Services evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that standard operating procedures are kept current and maintained as required, which includes alignment with manufacturers’ guidelines and instructions for use, review at least every three years, and update when there is a change in process or the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
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34 The Associate Director for Patient Care Services evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and makes certain that the Sterile Processing Services Chief consistently performs an annual risk analysis and reports the analysis to the Veterans Integrated Service Network Sterile Processing Service Management Board.
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35 The Associate Director for Patient Care Services evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures that annual airflow testing is conducted in all areas where reusable medical equipment is reprocessed.
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36 The Associate Director for Patient Care Services evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures that endoscopes are stored properly.
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37 The Associate Director for Patient Care Services evaluates and determines reasons for noncompliance and ensures that all current Sterile Processing Services employees complete Level 1 training and all new employees complete Level 1 training within 90 days of hire.
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38 The Associate Director for Patient Care Services evaluates and determines reasons for noncompliance and ensures that the Chief of Sterile Processing Services documents completion of competencies for staff prior to performance of reprocessing duties.
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39 The Associate Director for Patient Care Services evaluates and determines any additional reasons for noncompliance and ensures Sterile Processing Services staff receive monthly continuing education.
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| 19-07827-182 | Deficiencies in Virtual Pharmacy Services in the Care of a Patient | Hotline Healthcare Inspection | ||
1 The Under Secretary for Health ensures a review of the pharmacy care provided for the patient and consult with the Human Resources Department regarding administrative action, if warranted.
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2 The Under Secretary for Health develops a standardized Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture menu for Meds by Mail Virtual Pharmacy Services clinical pharmacists and ensures training and access to clinical information to perform the functional statement duties.
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3 The Under Secretary for Health ensures consistency between Virtual Pharmacy Services Meds by Mail clinical pharmacists’ functional statements and position responsibilities.
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4 The Under Secretary for Health evaluates the Meds by Mail Virtual Pharmacy Services performance metrics, determines a reasonable productivity benchmark, and establishes additional metrics as appropriate.
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5 The Under Secretary for Health establishes program management and quality assurance objectives for Virtual Pharmacy Services that define the reporting frequency and structure, and monitors compliance with contract terms.
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| 19-05798-107 | VA Police Information Management System Needs Improvement | Audit | ||
1 The OIG recommends that the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness in consultation with the Under Secretary for Health evaluate the appropriateness of having the Law Enforcement Training Center serve as the manager of the records management systems for VA police.
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2 The OIG recommended the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, as well as the Under Secretary for Health establish a working group of subject matter experts and evaluate whether the Report Exec system meets the needs of VA police. The group should evaluate if the system meets police needs and whether contract requirements have been fully achieved, then develop a strategy to ensure that police units at all medical facilities have a reliably performing records management system to report and track activities.
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3 The OIG recommended the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness in consultation with the Principal executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction; the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology; and the Under Secretary for Health develop and implement a plan describing how, when, and to whom information about issues for the police records management system will be disseminated and resolved.
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4 The OIG recommended the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness, in consultation with the Under Secretary for Health, update security and law enforcement program procedures to ensure they meet information management needs and requirements.
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5 The OIG recommended the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction initiate an agreement with the contractor to ensure information security measures are in place for the VA police records that were stored on the contractor’s server to prevent unauthorized use and their proper disposal.
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6 The OIG recommended the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness in consultation with the General Counsel and the Assistant Secretary for Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection determine the appropriate administrative action to take, if any, against personnel involved in bypassing the requirement that the Report Exec system be hosted at the Austin Information Technology Center and the VA information security process be completed before operation.
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7 The OIG recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness ensure an Information Security Officer is consistently responsible for the Report Exec system and properly notified.
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| 18-00711-141 | Financial Controls and Payments Related to VA-Affiliated Nonprofit Corporations: Northern California Institute for Research and Education | Audit | ||
1 The San Francisco VA Healthcare System director establishes procedures to ensure the Research and Development Budget Office staff review VA-affiliated nonprofit corporation invoices to confirm services were performed or goods were received in accordance with Intergovernmental Personnel Act agreements before approving invoices for payment.
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2 The San Francisco VA Healthcare System director establishes procedures to ensure the Research and Development Budget Office supervisor conducts periodic reviews of the VA-affiliated nonprofit corporation invoices authorized for payment by staff as required by VA Financial Policies and Procedures, Volume VIII, Chapter 1A.
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| 18-00711-106 | Financial Controls and Payments Related to VA-Affiliated Nonprofit Corporations: Middle Tennessee Research Institute | Audit | ||
1 The VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) director ensures the Middle Tennessee Research Institute’s Board of directors establishes procedures to verify adequate supporting documentation prior to approval of expenditures.
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2 The OIG recommended that the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) director ensure the MTRI board of directors establishes procedures that require staff to verify supporting documentation before approving expenditures.
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3 The OIG also recommended that the system director should establish procedures to ensure the R&D Budget Office supervisor conducts required periodic reviews of VA-affiliated nonprofit corporation invoices that staff have authorized for payment.
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| 19-06391-119 | Deficiencies in Nursing Care and Management in the Community Living Center at the Coatesville VA Medical Center, Pennsylvania | Hotline Healthcare Inspection | ||
1 The Coatesville VA Medical Center Director reviews and monitors staff compliance with the Community Living Center required nursing processes and documentation for medication administration, pain management assessments, and care plans.
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2 The Coatesville VA Medical Center Director examines Community Living Center nursing processes and ensures that required documentation for fall prevention assessments, which include measures such as bed positions, call bell access, and post-fall assessments, is completed and monitored.
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3 The Coatesville VA Medical Center Director reviews and monitors staff compliance with Community Living Center call bell processes and practices.
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4 The Coatesville VA Medical Center Director evaluates Community Living Center wound prevention processes and ensures that required wound documentation, including the measurement of patient weights and maintenance of skin integrity, is completed and monitored for compliance.
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5 The Coatesville VA Medical Center Director ensures that the newly developed Community Living Center hourly rounding form and process is approved in accordance with the facility’s standard operating procedure and aligns with the facility’s rounding policies, and monitors compliance.
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6 The Coatesville VA Medical Center Director makes sure that the fact-finding review process includes tracking and documenting issues through resolution and monitors compliance.
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7 The Coatesville VA Medical Center Director ensures that the Executive Leadership Board and the Geriatric and Extended Care Executive Council review, document, and track identified facility issues and, for the Executive Leadership Board, recommendations through resolution.
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8 The Coatesville VA Medical Center Director reviews and monitors the maintenance and functionality of essential safety equipment on Community Living Center units.
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9 The Coatesville VA Medical Center Director updates the facility staffing methodology policy and staffing methodology calculations to comply with current Veterans Health Administration staffing methodology requirements.
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| 19-08857-171 | Coordination of Care and Employee Satisfaction Concerns at the Community Living Center, Loch Raven VA Medical Center, in Baltimore, Maryland | Hotline Healthcare Inspection | ||
1 The VA Maryland Health Care System Director conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the organizational health to include staff reporting of concerns and employee satisfaction at the Loch Raven Community Living Center, develops an action plan for improvement, and monitors progress.
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2 The VA Maryland Health Care System Director reviews current laboratory specimen handling procedures at the Loch Raven Community Living Center and implements an action plan to address identified deficiencies.
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3 The VA Maryland Health Care System Director ensures that concerns reported to Pathology &Laboratory Medicine Service are investigated and that action plans are instituted as needed.
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4 The VA Maryland Health Care System Director ensures Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service staff notifies providers of critical laboratory results, documents in accordance with policy, and monitors compliance.
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5 The VA Maryland Health Care System Director reviews the current process for medication delivery, to include the effectiveness of recently initiated actions as described in the report, from the Baltimore VA Medical Center pharmacy to the Loch Raven Community Living Center and implements an action plan to address identified vulnerabilities.
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| 19-06249-94 | Disability Compensation Benefit Adjustments for Hospitalization Need Improvement | Audit | ||
1 The OIG recommended the under secretary for benefits correct disability compensation benefits for the veterans identified in the sample whose benefits were not adjusted or were incorrectly adjusted.
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2 The OIG recommended the under secretary for benefits develop and implement a plan to ensure all VA regional offices generate and process the weekly Admission Report for Service Connected Veterans and maintain coordinators’ logs to complete required benefit adjustments.
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3 The OIG recommended the under secretary for benefits continue to develop and implement a plan to nationally generate and process the Admission Report for Service Connected Veterans.
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4 The OIG recommended the under secretary for benefits determine if a statutory or regulatory change is required to ensure lawful, consistent, and timely processing of benefits for veterans entitled to temporary increases of benefits to 100 percent.
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5 The OIG recommended the under secretary for benefits develop and implement a plan to ensure staff receive refresher training when needed to properly process temporary disability compensation benefit adjustments for veterans hospitalized for more than 21 days that includes monitoring the effectiveness of the training.
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6 The OIG recommended the under secretary for benefits develop a plan to determine which veterans required adjustment of compensation benefits for hospitalization for a service connected condition, using the Admission Report for Service Connected Veterans for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, and make the required adjustments.
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14957