Federal Watchdog: VA Must Act Fast on Patient Safety, Record Delays, and Staffing Issues

A new study from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommends that the government replace its old medical record systems and reduce wait times for care. If implemented, the watchdog's five top suggestions could improve care for the 9.2 million veterans in the VA health system.

The Priority Open Recommendations report, which came out on Monday, says that the VA risks bad management, fraud, and inefficient service delivery if specific problems are not fixed. Problems kept coming up in five main areas, according to the GAO. These areas are inefficiencies in medical supply purchasing, delays in electronic health record modernization, chronic medical staff shortages and patient safety concerns across VA hospitals and clinics.

"These problems put the quality of care veterans get at risk and need to be fixed by VA leadership," the report said. It asked Doug Collins, the secretary of the VA, and other top officials to ensure that federal laws are followed and that proper oversight of spending is done.

The GAO suggests that the VA set clear goals and a maximum allowed wait time for appointments so that veterans can get care from appropriate providers through this program."

The watchdog also said that the VA's method for buying medical supplies was broken, using supply chain problems during the COVID era as an example. To cut down on waste and fraud, the agency needs a centralized buying strategy and performance measures that can be measured.

The study also said that updating electronic health records is behind schedule and costs more than planned. Instead of using patchwork fixes, the GAO told the VA to update its cost figures and deal with system problems at their roots.

We also need a better picture of the staffing gaps. The VA doesn't have a standard way to track the number of doctors working at 170 hospitals and almost 1,200 outpatient clinics.

The study also discusses how the VA's huge healthcare network must have the same risk management and safety standards. The GAO says that Congress can back these changes through laws and oversight tools like budget allocations and appropriations.

"A strong workforce that can give veterans high-quality care on time is essential to the success of VA," the report said.

The Department of Veterans Affairs must take swift action to improve patient safety, modernize long wait times for community (non-VA) care.