Healthcare Inspection Colonoscopy Management El Paso VA Health Care System El Paso, Texas

The purpose of this inspection was to determine the validity of allegations that colonoscopy results were not appropriately followed by primary care providers, abnormal pathology results were not consistently referred for specialty care, and scheduling of referrals was often delayed. We did not substantiate that patients were affected by inadequate follow-up or that follow-up care was delayed. However, we identified one patient whose diagnosis may have been delayed. Although we did not substantiate delays in scheduling specialty referrals after colonoscopy, we found that there was an inefficient process for dealing with consults generally