New Phoenix VA report notes concerns about in-hospital complications
Jun 6, 2018, 9:55 AM | Updated: Jun 21, 2018, 2:21 pm
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
PHOENIX — The number of in-hospital complications and adverse events following surgeries remains a concern for the scandal-ridden Phoenix-area veterans health system, according to a new government report.
The results of an inspection by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General were released a day before President Donald Trump signed a bill Wednesday expanding private care for veterans as an alternative to the VA system.
Wanda Wright, director of Arizona Department of Veterans Services, was in Washington for the signing of the Mission Act.
“It is, for me, a huge and significant act in that it will give veterans additional access to medical assistance,” Wright told KTAR News 92.3 FM.
The $51 billion measure, which had bipartisan support, built on legislation passed in 2014 in response to a scandal at the Phoenix VA medical center, where some veterans died while waiting months for appointments.
It allows veterans to see private doctors when they do not receive the treatment they expect, with the approval of a VA provider.
The legislation also expands a caregivers program to cover families of veterans of all eras, not just those injured in the line of duty since 2001.
On Tuesday, the VA released the findings of an inspection of the Phoenix VA system done in February. These types of inspections are done approximately every three years, evaluating different areas of focus on a rotating basis.
The report was generally positive in regards to the system’s leadership, which has stabilized since a period of flux following the scandal.
“Upon review of selected employee and patient survey results, the OIG noted generally satisfied employees while facility leaders face a challenging task of rebuilding patient and public trust while improving organizational performance,” the report summary said.
However, 13 recommendations for improvement were issued.
“Although it is difficult to quantify the risk of patient harm, the findings in this report may help facilities identify areas of vulnerability or conditions that, if properly addressed, could improve patient safety and health care quality,” the report said.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross and the Associated Press contributed to this report.