Healthcare Inspection: Alleged Inappropriate Surveillance, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida.

摘要

At the request of Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, Chairman Jeff Miller, House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Congressman Mike Michaud, Ranking Member, House Veterans Affairs Committee, the VA Office of Inspector General initiated a review on August 2, 2012, into a media report that a hidden camera was placed in a brain-damaged patient's room without consent of next-of-kin. In August 2011, a patient was transferred from the Miami VA Healthcare System (VAHCS), Miami, FL, to James A. Haley Veterans Hospital (JAHVH), in Tampa, FL. A 399-day hospital stay ensued concluding with the patient's transfer to Atlanta VA Medical Center (VAMC), Decatur, GA, in September 2012. This patients JAHVH stay was associated with numerous medical, nursing, social work, and legal concerns. The latter, in particular, surrounded first the placement of a video surveillance camera (VSC) in the patient's room on June 13, 2012, and its activation 2 days later against the patient's family's wishes. These issues engendered extensive Congressional, Secretarial, and media interest. The purpose of this inspection was to review the numerous facets of the patient's care, video surveillance at JAHVH, and video surveillance in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) generally.