Healthcare Inspection Alleged Quality of Care Issues Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Charleston, South Carolina

OIG conducted an inspection in response to allegations that the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC, provided poor care to a veteran, contributing to his untimely death. OIG did not substantiate that staff intentionally disregarded the veteran’s medical power of attorney and end of life wishes, kept him overmedicated causing a small bowel obstruction, or cared for this terminally ill veteran in unsanitary room conditions. We also did not substantiate other issues pertaining to nursing care or that the medical record contained discrepancies and lacked documentation of the patient at end of life. We made no recommendations.