Why GAO Did This Study
“Nearly 165,000 licensed health care providers, such as physicians and nurses, provide care in VHA’s VA medical centers and outpatient facilities. Medical center staff must determine whether to hire and retain health care providers by reviewing and verifying information about their qualifications and practice history. The NPDB is a key source of information about a provider’s clinical practice history.”
“Medical center staff must also investigate any concerns that arise about the clinical care their providers deliver. Depending on the findings from these reviews, medical centers may take an adverse privileging action against a provider. VA medical centers are required to report providers to the NPDB and state licensing boards under certain circumstances. Failing to adhere to these requirements can negatively affect patient safety.”
What GAO Found
“The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs to take action to ensure its health care providers have the appropriate qualifications and clinical abilities to deliver high quality, safe care to veterans, as GAO recommended in its February 2019 and November 2017 reports. Specifically, GAO found the following:
- VA medical centers took action against some providers who did not meet VA licensure requirements, but overlooked others…
- Selected VA medical centers’ reviews of providers’ clinical care were not always documented…
- Selected VA medical centers did not report providers to the NPDB or to state licensing boards as required…”
“GAO made 11 recommendations in its 2019 and 2017 reports to address the deficiencies identified. VA implemented two of these 11 recommendations, and provided action plans to address the other nine recommendations.”
Access the full 25-page report here.
Source: VA Health Care: Actions Needed to Ensure Provider Qualifications and Competence – October 16, 2019. GAO.
