Healthcare Inspection - Alleged Quality of Care Issues in the Electroconvulsive Therapy Program, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts

The OIG conducted a review to determine the validity of allegations that patients were not medically optimized prior to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and that a patient underwent ECT without consent or the knowledge that ECT could be refused. We did not substantiate these allegations and other allegations related to improprieties in ECT research and inpatient Mental Health unit census. We did substantiate that although local maintenance was performed annually, the ECT machine was not sent to the manufacturer every 2 years for a full quality control check, and that a psychiatrist initiated, but did not complete, electronic medical record notes for residents she supervised. We recommended that the System Director implement procedures to ensure that the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance for the ECT machine is followed as prescribed.