Healthcare Inspection Alleged Neglect by a Social Worker Charles George VA Medical Center Asheville, North Carolina

The purpose of the inspection was to evaluate allegations that a social worker at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC, neglected a patient by not providing adequate social services and as a result, the veteran suffered a series of mishaps that endangered his life. We did not substantiate the allegation that the social worker neglected the veteran’s care. While it appears that the social worker may not have followed up on a March 2008 phone message, we did not conclude that this singular lapse constituted neglect. We found no evidence that the veteran’s condition at that time required immediate intervention. We also did not substantiate that the social worker’s actions contributed to the patient’s hospitalization 2 months after the March telephone contact, that the social worker made improper statements, or that the medical center Director failed to return phone calls from the complainant. We made no recommendations.