Posted on Sep 2, 2015
Why Is Little Being Done About Medical Errors Occurring At VA Hospitals?
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An Aug. 28 report from the Government Accountability Office reveals that hospitals within the Veterans Affairs system may be doing less than they should to investigate preventable medical mistakes.
The report found that the number of investigations for medical errors, called “adverse effects,” plunged 18% between 2010 and 2014. As the number of examinations shrank, medical errors grew 7% during those same years. At the same time, the number of veterans seeking medical care through the VA grew by 14%. Last year alone, roughly 5.8 million people sought care at VA medical hospitals.
In essence, more veterans are seeking care while the number of medical mishaps increases.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/08/31/medical-errors-are-up-at-va-hospitals-but-theyre-actually-doing-less-to-figure-out-why/
The report found that the number of investigations for medical errors, called “adverse effects,” plunged 18% between 2010 and 2014. As the number of examinations shrank, medical errors grew 7% during those same years. At the same time, the number of veterans seeking medical care through the VA grew by 14%. Last year alone, roughly 5.8 million people sought care at VA medical hospitals.
In essence, more veterans are seeking care while the number of medical mishaps increases.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/08/31/medical-errors-are-up-at-va-hospitals-but-theyre-actually-doing-less-to-figure-out-why/
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Medical
Issues
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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I am going to cry foul, to be sure every single VA facility can tell you the reason why. We are no different than any other health care system. We have to be accredited by the Joint Commission (TJC), if we have a rehabilitation program at our facility, each program has to be Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). That doesn't include all the internal evaluations from the Central Office VA and regional offices. So if some one is saying they don't know I don't believe them, as the data is there for the TJC and CARF. I suspect there is either a very ignorant staff member or some serious politics at play here. Are we perfect, no, but by no means are we incompetent. I would put my facility against a lot of private facilities that do the same thing. If we have issues, trust me it is being tracked, there is a corrective action plan in place, and it is being followed up on. For the record the VA Palo Alto Health Care System has over 40% Veterans as employees, and yes we give a damn about our brothers and sister veterans!
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SGT (Join to see)
If I didn't qualify for the VA, my wife and I would be up a creek. She had two major surgeries two years ago at a civilian hospital. When I say major surgeries, I mean she died twice on the table. The bills were in six figures. Because I am a vet with 100% disability, and she is eligible for CHAMPVA, our part of the bill was $47. So I would say we've been treated well. I've had many kidney stone surgeries, and teeth implants which would be in the thousands of dollars, but I get all my treatments and hearing aids free due to my disability pay.
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CW3 Kevin Storm
No way can I speak for every VA. I can only talk about my facility and with the folks I work with in my VISN (Veterans Integrated Service Network). I can say this Palo Alto is one of the top two research facilities for the VA, we have National Center for PTSD, The National Center for TBI, Were a Center for Tele Radiology, and more things than I can keep track of. Is every VA this way, no, but we are trying. Keep in mind the VA got beat up badly before the wars, as it was looked at our need was going to fade with the WWII vets. Billions of Dollars are being spent on renovations, and improving care. So when I hear the VA is Jacked up, I do take offense. You are talking about a lot of vets who work here, get afterschool work, and get care here. I can never apologize enough for the incompetence of a few to the rest of you. What happened in Phoenix was a slap in the face, things like this tarnish us deep to the core.
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MSG (Join to see)
I am glad to hear some good stories about VA, because all of my experiences with the VA in Georgia has all been BAD from day one, most VA workers don't care if the provide quality service or not because they know that nothing is going to be done either way and they still get their paychecks. I need my 100% disability and it is a darn shame that I have to wait forever to get it because of incompetent staff at Fort Gordon Wounded Warrior Transition Battalion not doing their jobs either.
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG (Join to see), How long have you been waiting? Can you use the VFW or some other vet association to be your service officer? I like the VFW. They got my claim processed pretty fast. I started using the American Legion, but they drug their feet too long.
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Suspended Profile
It has to do with demand. When demand outsteps provider supply, error rates go up, because providers are overworked. Complicating this is a huge shortage of doctors because of the cost of college these days. Until all these issues can get sorted, and read $$$$$ here, these problems will continue...
SGT (Join to see)
I don't know how they do it day in and day out, one patient after another, and plenty more in the waiting area. I've always been very polite to the staff and that goes a long way with how you are treated. I've never had any serious problems, LCDR Rabbi Jaron Matlow.
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Suspended Profile
SGT (Join to see) I haven't either; I'm just offering up a reason why error rates are on the rise...
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