Healthcare Inspection: Primary Care Services for Women Veterans: Accessibility and Acknowledgment of Test Results

Ensuring that women veterans receive comprehensive primary care services is a fundamental goal for Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This review evaluated the accessibility and acknowledgment of results of gender-specific tests provided at VHA facilities or through fee basis arrangements. We found that results for Pap smears and bone mineral density studies were readily accessible and abnormal results acknowledged in nearly 95 percent of cases. Abnormal results not acknowledged were limited to bone mineral density studies in patients with osteopenia or treated osteoporosis. Mammography results were accessible and abnormal results acknowledged in 97 percent of cases when these tests were performed at VHA facilities. However, when mammograms were performed through fee basis arrangements, results were accessible in only 74 percent of cases. We recommended that the Under Secretary for Health develop and implement a plan to ensure that results of mammography performed by fee basis providers are readily accessible to VHA clinicians in the electronic medical record.