“I'm fortunate to have frequent communications with Rich Cohen, Executive Director of NOVA. The National Organization of Veterans Advocates is a premier entity that serves to educate and inform attorneys and agents who represent veterans. I'm not an attorney and I don't have any legal background and the opportunity for me to vent frustrations as well as ask my questions about all things legal is invaluable to my efforts.
Rich offered this to me recently; "Jim...VHA can't get it right". He attached the report from the VA-OIG, "Management of Test Results in Veterans Health Administration Facilities". Rich points out that, "The report documents the failure of VHA to notify patients of test results and shows that in 48% of observed institutions (10/21); 'Policies did not describe a process for monitoring the effectiveness of communicating critical results to patients.'"
In simpler terms, doctors at almost half of VA medical facilities studied didn't have a good policy telling them when and how to inform patients of test results.”
I emailed Jim that he must have ESP because yesterday I got a VACO response (nothing to do with my claims) regarding an accountabilty matter I have been pursuing for many years and might finally be coming to a head.
It involves a comment I made at the Federal Register and the NPDB mandate.
And the article he posted reflects the points my comment contained. (I think they took it off the Fed Reg site)
A veteran could easily assume that if the VA doesn't contact them about a test result-everything was OK.
But the reality is a test result could be critical and need immediate attention.
I get test results in the mail from my doc sometimes but usually it is the first thing she addresses when I have next appointment.I don't know why the VA is lacking in this important area of patient communication.
Question
Berta
"Test Results in Veterans Medical Facilities " by Jim Strickland
http://www.vawatchdogtoday.org/
In Part:
“I'm fortunate to have frequent communications with Rich Cohen, Executive Director of NOVA. The National Organization of Veterans Advocates is a premier entity that serves to educate and inform attorneys and agents who represent veterans. I'm not an attorney and I don't have any legal background and the opportunity for me to vent frustrations as well as ask my questions about all things legal is invaluable to my efforts.
Rich offered this to me recently; "Jim...VHA can't get it right". He attached the report from the VA-OIG, "Management of Test Results in Veterans Health Administration Facilities". Rich points out that, "The report documents the failure of VHA to notify patients of test results and shows that in 48% of observed institutions (10/21); 'Policies did not describe a process for monitoring the effectiveness of communicating critical results to patients.'"
In simpler terms, doctors at almost half of VA medical facilities studied didn't have a good policy telling them when and how to inform patients of test results.”
I emailed Jim that he must have ESP because yesterday I got a VACO response (nothing to do with my claims) regarding an accountabilty matter I have been pursuing for many years and might finally be coming to a head.
It involves a comment I made at the Federal Register and the NPDB mandate.
And the article he posted reflects the points my comment contained. (I think they took it off the Fed Reg site)
A veteran could easily assume that if the VA doesn't contact them about a test result-everything was OK.
But the reality is a test result could be critical and need immediate attention.
I get test results in the mail from my doc sometimes but usually it is the first thing she addresses when I have next appointment.I don't know why the VA is lacking in this important area of patient communication.
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