UNITED STATES: Inspector General: Improvements in VA Endoscopic Equipment Use

[Guest guest]

cdc 09-28-09

UNITED STATES: " Inspector General: Improvements in VA Endoscopic Equipment

Use "

Associated Press (09.18.09):: Hefling

In a newly released report, the Veterans Affairs' inspector general (IG) said

surprise visits to 128 VA medical facilities found all were following

infection-control procedures for endoscopy equipment.

All but one demonstrated that staff had been properly trained in using the

devices, the report said. That hospital, White River Junction VA Medical Center

in Vermont, disagreed with the report's findings. According to a VA official, a

typographical error in the hospital's paperwork that included the word

" cystoscope " rather than the correct " colonoscope " led to WRJ being singled out.

In all, the IG found significant improvement over inspections performed earlier

in the summer, which found less than half were in compliance. Gerald M. Cross,

the VA's acting under-secretary for health, said the new report shows the

agency's quality assurance programs " identified a risk and successfully

corrected that risk on a national scale. "

Earlier this year, around 10,000 veterans who underwent colonoscopies and other

endoscopic procedures at VA facilities in Augusta, Ga., Miami, and Murfreesboro,

Tenn., were told they may have been exposed to HIV and other blood-borne

infections due to improper infection-control practices. The VA said it issued

more than 40 disciplinary actions related to the outbreak. The agency has

offered free medical treatment to all infected veterans.

The report can be viewed at

http://www.va.gov/oig/54/reports/VAOIG-09-02848-218.pdf. Telephone the VA

hotline for questions related to the issue, 1-877-345-8555.

[Guest guest]

cdc 09-28-09

UNITED STATES: " Inspector General: Improvements in VA Endoscopic Equipment

Use "

Associated Press (09.18.09):: Hefling

In a newly released report, the Veterans Affairs' inspector general (IG) said

surprise visits to 128 VA medical facilities found all were following

infection-control procedures for endoscopy equipment.

All but one demonstrated that staff had been properly trained in using the

devices, the report said. That hospital, White River Junction VA Medical Center

in Vermont, disagreed with the report's findings. According to a VA official, a

typographical error in the hospital's paperwork that included the word

" cystoscope " rather than the correct " colonoscope " led to WRJ being singled out.

In all, the IG found significant improvement over inspections performed earlier

in the summer, which found less than half were in compliance. Gerald M. Cross,

the VA's acting under-secretary for health, said the new report shows the

agency's quality assurance programs " identified a risk and successfully

corrected that risk on a national scale. "

Earlier this year, around 10,000 veterans who underwent colonoscopies and other

endoscopic procedures at VA facilities in Augusta, Ga., Miami, and Murfreesboro,

Tenn., were told they may have been exposed to HIV and other blood-borne

infections due to improper infection-control practices. The VA said it issued

more than 40 disciplinary actions related to the outbreak. The agency has

offered free medical treatment to all infected veterans.

The report can be viewed at

http://www.va.gov/oig/54/reports/VAOIG-09-02848-218.pdf. Telephone the VA

hotline for questions related to the issue, 1-877-345-8555.

[Guest guest]

cdc 09-28-09

UNITED STATES: " Inspector General: Improvements in VA Endoscopic Equipment

Use "

Associated Press (09.18.09):: Hefling

In a newly released report, the Veterans Affairs' inspector general (IG) said

surprise visits to 128 VA medical facilities found all were following

infection-control procedures for endoscopy equipment.

All but one demonstrated that staff had been properly trained in using the

devices, the report said. That hospital, White River Junction VA Medical Center

in Vermont, disagreed with the report's findings. According to a VA official, a

typographical error in the hospital's paperwork that included the word

" cystoscope " rather than the correct " colonoscope " led to WRJ being singled out.

In all, the IG found significant improvement over inspections performed earlier

in the summer, which found less than half were in compliance. Gerald M. Cross,

the VA's acting under-secretary for health, said the new report shows the

agency's quality assurance programs " identified a risk and successfully

corrected that risk on a national scale. "

Earlier this year, around 10,000 veterans who underwent colonoscopies and other

endoscopic procedures at VA facilities in Augusta, Ga., Miami, and Murfreesboro,

Tenn., were told they may have been exposed to HIV and other blood-borne

infections due to improper infection-control practices. The VA said it issued

more than 40 disciplinary actions related to the outbreak. The agency has

offered free medical treatment to all infected veterans.

The report can be viewed at

http://www.va.gov/oig/54/reports/VAOIG-09-02848-218.pdf. Telephone the VA

hotline for questions related to the issue, 1-877-345-8555.

[Guest guest]

cdc 09-28-09

UNITED STATES: " Inspector General: Improvements in VA Endoscopic Equipment

Use "

Associated Press (09.18.09):: Hefling

In a newly released report, the Veterans Affairs' inspector general (IG) said

surprise visits to 128 VA medical facilities found all were following

infection-control procedures for endoscopy equipment.

All but one demonstrated that staff had been properly trained in using the

devices, the report said. That hospital, White River Junction VA Medical Center

in Vermont, disagreed with the report's findings. According to a VA official, a

typographical error in the hospital's paperwork that included the word

" cystoscope " rather than the correct " colonoscope " led to WRJ being singled out.

In all, the IG found significant improvement over inspections performed earlier

in the summer, which found less than half were in compliance. Gerald M. Cross,

the VA's acting under-secretary for health, said the new report shows the

agency's quality assurance programs " identified a risk and successfully

corrected that risk on a national scale. "

Earlier this year, around 10,000 veterans who underwent colonoscopies and other

endoscopic procedures at VA facilities in Augusta, Ga., Miami, and Murfreesboro,

Tenn., were told they may have been exposed to HIV and other blood-borne

infections due to improper infection-control practices. The VA said it issued

more than 40 disciplinary actions related to the outbreak. The agency has

offered free medical treatment to all infected veterans.

The report can be viewed at

http://www.va.gov/oig/54/reports/VAOIG-09-02848-218.pdf. Telephone the VA

hotline for questions related to the issue, 1-877-345-8555.