VA Watchdog Finds Serious Patient Safety Issues With EHR System
Just weeks before a scheduled rollout to a second hospital, the Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general released three reports Thursday that identify unresolved problems with the agency's $16 billion update to its massive digital health records system. The safety issues range from medication errors to a lack of safeguards for veterans at high danger of suicide.
The Washington Post:
Veterans Put At Risk By Failures In $16 Billion Digital Health System, Watchdog Finds
More than a year after a disastrous deployment at its first hospital, the $16 billion effort to modernize veterans’ medical records still poses grave safety risks to patients, from medication errors to failures to safeguard patients at high danger of suicide, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ internal watchdog reported Thursday. Three reports on the project’s rollout in Spokane, Wash., cast doubt on how smoothly it will expand next week, when VA plans to bring its digital health records system to a second Washington hospital in Walla Walla, then accelerate implementation at other hospitals and clinics in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere by December. (Rein, 3/17)
Chicago Tribune:
100-Year-Old Hines VA Hospital Would Get New Facility Under National Overhaul Plan
The Biden administration is proposing replacing much of the 100-year-old Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital — which sits about 12 miles west of downtown Chicago — as part of a national overhaul of the nation’s veteran’s health care system. The Department of Veterans Affairs released details earlier this week about how it plans to revamp its facilities across the country, sparking controversy with recommendations to close hospitals in some areas, such as Massachusetts, Ohio and New York. Under the plan, the Chicago area would keep its three main VA health care facilities — Hines, the Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Chicago and the Capt. James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago. But Hines, which has nearly 500 beds, would get a new building to house all of its patient care. At least some of Hines’ current buildings, including the one that now includes most of the hospital’s patient care, would remain for administrative use, said James Doelling, Hines’ hospital director. (Schencker, 3/17)
In other health industry news —
Cincinnati Enquirer:
17 Cincinnati Area Hospitals Docked For Readmission, Infection Rates
The federal government will reduce Medicare payments to 17 Cincinnati area hospitals with high rates of readmission or inpatient-developed infections and injuries in 2022. The penalties, which are a part of two separate pay-for-performance programs under the Affordable Care Act, include a 1% reduction of Medicare payments to hospitals with a high volume of in-house infections, or hospital-acquired injuries, and a separate reduction of up to 3% for high readmission. Most penalties don't reach the full 3% reduction, however. Five local hospitals – the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, TriHealth's McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare's Edgewood, Florence, and Fort Thomas hospitals – were penalized for having high rates of complications classified under the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction program, according to data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (Sutherland, 3/17)
Anchorage Daily News:
Historic Split Of Alaska’s Health Department Will Become Final Within Days Unless Senate Moves Fast
Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s sweeping proposal to divide Alaska’s massive health department into two agencies via an executive order appears poised to go into effect this summer unless the Legislature makes a last-minute decision to meet in joint session by Saturday. State Senate leaders say there are no plans for a joint session, despite pressure from House leaders to “disapprove” the split -- the only way the Legislature can take action. Dunleavy in January issued Executive Order 21, a 100-plus-page document that divides the unwieldy Alaska Department of Health and Social Services into a Department of Health and a Department of Family and Community Services. The administration contends the Alaska Constitution allows the governor to make such a sweeping reorganization rather than proposing a bill that’s subject to legislative review and amendments. (Hollander and Brooks, 3/17)
WUSF Public Media:
$700 Million In State Funding Will Help Moffitt Build Massive Cancer Complex In Pasco County
An ambitious plan to build a massive cancer treatment center and research park on 775 acres in Pasco County received a major boost from Florida legislators this week. In the budget that they forwarded to the governor on Monday, lawmakers awarded a total of $706 million to Moffitt Cancer Center over the next 30 years to help the nonprofit build a life sciences innovation district on vacant land just east of the Suncoast Parkway and south of State Road 52. The project will serve as a hub for cancer research, education and patient care, said Jamie Wilson, vice president of government relations for Moffitt. (Bruner, 3/17)
Also —
Modern Healthcare:
Becerra Eyes Work On Physician Pay, Medicare Advantage Reform
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said Thursday that the department may readjust Medicare Part B premiums next month while it looks to work with Congress on other healthcare reforms in his second year on the job. As Becerra approaches his one-year anniversary in the position, he's also fighting an uphill battle for more funding from Congress to keep COVID-19 relief and health coverage initiatives alive. HHS is interested in talking to Congress about Medicare Advantage overpayment issues and physician payment reform, Becerra told reporters Thursday. "We can't let this go over the cliff. Not when we're on the verge of turning the page," he said. (Goldman, 3/17)
