Audit finds VA using ‘ghost panels’ without primary care physicians

More than 2,300 patients at the Iowa City (Iowa) Veterans Affairs Health Care System and the VA Black Hills Health Care System in Fort Meade, S.D., were assigned to "ghost panels," whose primary care physicians no longer worked with the system, according to a federal audit.

The audit, conducted by the VA Office of Inspector General, found two ghost panels at each of the VA systems. However, the report did not find a negative impact on patients because both facilities ensured patients assigned to the ghost panels had ongoing care.

The audit was conducted following a request by Rep. Timothy Walz (D-Minn.) to investigate if ghost panels existed in the VA system. In light of its findings, the OIG recommended the VA ensure its patients are redistributed when primary care providers resign and continually monitor its compliance.

More articles on infection control and clinical quality:

NIH awards $9M to research team studying HIV prevention intervention for men

Ochsner hospital transfers 40 critically ill patients due to massive floods

Top 20 hospitals for cardiology safety scores: US News & World Report

© Copyright ASC COMMUNICATIONS 2020. Interested in LINKING to or REPRINTING this content? View our policies by clicking here.