Healthcare Inspection Issues with Quality of Patient Care and Communication, Hampton VA Medical Center, Hampton, Virginia;

At the request of the Honorable Jim Webb, United States Senator from Virginia, the OIG reviewed the validity of allegations regarding quality of care and communication at the Hampton VA Medical Center, Hampton, VA. We substantiated that the medical center managers and the hospitalist did not adequately communicate with the complainant. However, we determined that efforts to improve communications between medical center managers, clinical staff, and the complainant were effective; therefore, we made no recommendations. We did not substantiate the allegations that emergency department or inpatient staff provided poor patient care. However, we did find lapses in the discharge planning process. We recommended that the Hampton VA Medical Center Director ensure that medical center staff conduct discharge planning activities according to requirements and provide timely and complete written discharge instructions to patients and family members.