Community Based Outpatient Clinic Reviews Bradford (McKean County) and Franklin (Venango County), PA Camp Hill and Pottsville/Frackville, PA Mission, SD and Newcastle, WY Hibbing and Rochester, MN

The VA Office of Inspector General reviewed eight Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) during the week of May 16, 2011. CBOCs were reviewed in Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 4 at Bradford (McKean County) and Franklin (Venango County), PA; and Camp Hill and Pottsville/Frackville, PA; and, in VISN 23 at Mission, SD and Newcastle, WY; and Hibbing and Rochester, MN. The parent facilities of these CBOCs are Erie VA Medical Center (VAMC), Lebanon VAMC, VA Black Hills Healthcare System (HCS), and Minneapolis VA HCS, respectively. The purpose of the review was to assess whether CBOCs are operated in a manner that provides veterans with consistent, safe, high-quality health care. The review covered the following focused topic areas: mental health continuity of care, short-term fee basis care, women’s health, credentialing and privileging, skills competency, environment and emergency management, Primary Care Management Module, and contracts. OIG noted opportunities for improvement and made a total of 57 recommendations to the VISN and facility managers.