Combined Assessment Program Review of the VA Maine Healthcare System Augusta, Maine

The purpose of the review was to evaluate selected operations, focusing on patient care administration and quality management (QM). This review focused on eight operational activities. The facility complied with selected standards in the following three activities: (1) management of workplace violence, (2) medication management, and (3) registered nurse competency. The facility’s reported accomplishments were a specialized hospice and palliative care program, becoming a tobacco-restricted campus, and an outreach and educational program for homeless veterans. OIG made recommendations for improvement in the following five activities: (1) Quality Management, (2) physician credentialing and privileging, (3) environment of care, (4) coordination of care, and (5) enteral nutrition safety.