Healthcare Inspection Alleged Resident Supervision Issues VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas, Texas

The purpose of the review was to determine the validity of the allegations regarding widespread false documentation of resident supervision, unfulfilled contractual obligations by attending physicians from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and an attending physician’s not being present at the facility during a Code Blue (cardiorespiratory arrest) event. We did not substantiate the allegations of widespread false documentation and unfulfilled contractual obligations. We found that the attending physician was absent from the facility during a Code Blue event; however, there is no requirement for the attending to be physically present in the unit to fulfill supervision responsibilities. Furthermore, we concluded that the patient was managed appropriately by two other attending physicians. During the course of our review, we identified that the system needed to comply with Veterans Health Administration discharge summary documentation requirements. The facility has already implemented corrective actions.