Healthcare Inspection: Alleged Substandard Quality of Care in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Program Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin

摘要

Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections received allegations that after and due to removal of a nurse practitioner (NP) from the Cardiothoracic (CT) Surgery Service at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, cardiac surgical mortality increased and patient waiting times for a CT Surgery Service appointment increased. The purpose of the inspection was to determine the validity of these allegations. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center (medical center) delivers primary, secondary, and tertiary medical care through 170 acute care operating beds and provides 593,000 outpatient visits annually through an extensive outpatient program. The medical center's programs serve a veteran population of 321,421 in the southeastern and central parts of Wisconsin. The medical center is a part of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 12.