Community Based Outpatient Clinic Reviews: Springfield, MA; Morehead City and Raleigh, NC; Clarksville and Cookeville, TN; Wichita Falls, TX; Klamath Falls, OR

The VA Office of Inspector General reviewed seven Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) during the week of March 7, 2011. CBOCs were reviewed in Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 1 at Springfield, MA; in VISN 6 at Morehead City and Raleigh, NC; in VISN 9 at Clarksville and Cookeville, TN; in VISN 16 at Wichita Falls, TX; and, in VISN 20 at Klamath Falls, OR. The parent facilities of these CBOCs are Northampton VA Medical Center (VAMC), Durham VAMC, Tennessee Valley Health Care System, Oklahoma City VAMC, and Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics, 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 five areas: quality of care measures, credentialing and privileging, environment of care and emergency management, management of laboratory results, and CBOC contracts. OIG noted opportunities for improvement and made a total of 16 recommendations to VISN and facility managers.