Full Article at: Federal Report Sheds Light On VA Hospital Concerns
By Brien McElhatten
Story Published: Mar 9, 2010 at 10:24 PM EST
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - A federal investigation substantiates reports of resource mismanagement at the VA hospital.
The 17-page document released on March 2nd, highlights problem areas with the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System. The report traced complaints of "persistent instrumentation problems with operating room sets and peel packages; ongoing reusable medical equipment issues; supply processing and distribution stocking and dating of supplies; pharmacy stocking of operating rooms, post anesthesia care unit, endoscopy unit medications and management issues."
The investigation, conducted by the VA Office of Inspector general, substantiated some, but not all of the complaints made by staff members. It found that surgical instrument sets were returning improperly from a VA sterilizing facility in Marion. Some tools were marked with water spots, while tool packages occasionally contained the wrong tools or missing instruments. Investigators discovered that several technicians were unable to identify basic pieces that make up those kits.
Hospital Assistant Director Helen Rhodes says the employees were new at the time of the investigation, and that pictures of the tools and properly assembled tool kits have been issued to them to prevent recurrences.
In addition to improperly packaged tool sets, instruments like endoscopes occasionally returned from sterilization covered in water spots, prompting dozens of surgeries to be postponed in the summer of 2009."
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