Report Summary

Combined Assessment Program Review of the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center West Palm Beach, Florida

Report Number 08-01331-32, 12/2/2008 | Full Report (PDF)

The purpose of the review was to evaluate selected operations, focusing on patient care administration and quality management (QM). During the review, we provided fraud and integrity awareness training to 144 medical center employees. The review covered eight operational activities. The medical center complied with selected standards in the following five activities: (1) coordination of care, (2) emergency department (ED), (3) medication management, (4) patient satisfaction, and (5) staffing. We identified ED utilization as an organizational strength. We made recommendations for improvement in the following three activities: Environment of Care (EOC) – Address all identified EOC findings. QM – Require the timely completion of peer reviews (PRs), present trended and analyzed PR data to the appropriate committee, and adequately evaluate adverse events. Pharmacy Operations – Require controlled substances inspectors to complete training and competency reviews and require clinical pharmacists to complete monthly polypharmacy reviews on all community living center patients.

12/10/08