Breadcrumb

Healthcare Facility Inspection of the VA Central Alabama Health Care System in Montgomery

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
24-03419-34
VISN
7
State
Alabama
Georgia
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Healthcare Facility Inspection
Report Topic
Patient Care Services Operations
Patient Safety
Supplies and Equipment
Major Management Challenges
Healthcare Services
Recommendations
15
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 Central Alabama Health Care System in Montgomery. 

This evaluation focused on five key content domains:
     •    Culture
     •    Environment of care
     •    Patient safety
     •    Primary care
     •    Veteran-centered safety net

The OIG issued 15 recommendations for VA to correct identified deficiencies in three domains:
   1.    Environment of care
     •    Detectable warning surfaces
     •    Training for toxic exposure screenings
     •    Repeat findings
     •    Biohazardous material storage
     •    Clean and safe environment
   2.    Patient safety
     •    Communication of test results
     •    Peer Review Committee attendance
     •    Sentinel events and institutional disclosures
     •    Action plan tracking
     •    Medical emergency roles and responsibilities
     •    Emergency response policy
     •    Basic life support certification
   3.    Primary care
     •    Patients assigned to primary care teams

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)

Facility leaders install detectable warning surfaces where crosswalks transition onto a vehicle roadway.

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

Facility leaders ensure clinical staff who perform toxic exposure screenings complete mandatory training.

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

The Director ensures staff implement processes to prevent repeat environment of care findings related to dusty sprinkler heads.

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

Facility leaders evaluate all areas where biohazardous materials are located to ensure staff store clean and dirty items separately.

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

The Director ensures staff keep the environment clean and safe.

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

Facility leaders ensure their policy aligns with VHA Directive 1088(1) and develop workflows for all services that communicate test results to patients.

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

The Chief of Staff and Associate Director for Patient Care Services ensure corrective actions address unfavorable trends in communication of test result data.

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

The Director ensures the Chief of Staff chairs and attends the Peer Review Committee meetings as required by VHA.

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

The Director ensures patient safety managers identify adverse events as sentinel events when they meet criteria.

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

Facility leaders evaluate and improve processes to identify adverse events that warrant an institutional disclosure.

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

The Director implements processes to ensure staff track action plans until they are completed and report to leaders those that are outstanding.

No. 12
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Closure Date: 1/28/2026

The Director ensures leaders train staff on their roles and responsibilities when responding to a medical emergency, including the location of equipment used for medical emergencies.

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

The Director ensures leaders revise the emergency response policy based on recertification time frames in VHA Directive 0999(1) or sooner, if warranted.

No. 14
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Facility leaders ensure all applicable staff maintain basic life support certification and take appropriate action for those staff without it.

No. 15
Open Recommendation Image, Square
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The Director ensures facility leaders manage primary care teams’ panel sizes to support patients’ access to care.