Federal inspection turns up problems at VA hospital

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-wv--vahospitalinspect0201feb01,0,2115860.story

By the Associated Press
February 1, 2008

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Mold found throughout the Veterans Affairs Medical Center topped the list of concerns uncovered by federal investigators.

In a report released Thursday, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General also found problems with the medical center's radiology department, and reported that a former surgeon at the hospital once postponed an operation to finish lunch.

The inspectors, though, could not substantiate a number of claims made by a surgeon at the hospital, whose name was withheld from the final report. The report found that most of the problems have been corrected by the hospital since they were first identified.

The medical center referred calls seeking comment to the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington. A call to the VA was not immediately returned Friday.

The most significant problem identified by the report was the identification of "widespread" mold in two units of the hospital. Mold was identified in fall 2006 and April 2007, but since then, the report concludes, the medical center took appropriate steps to have it removed.

The inspectors also found a small number of inaccurately read radiology studies. The medical center now requires a "quality monitor" to conduct double readings of radiological film, which the report says should provide the necessary oversight.

FULL story at link.