Detroit News: Detroit VA hospital harmed patients, altered records, investigation reveals
Washington ― Investigators found lacking oversight they believe contributed to patient harm and death, and a pattern of “substandard” care in the surgery practice at Detroit's John D. Dingell VA Medical Center that leaders tried to conceal by altering external peer reviews and other data.
Those are among the findings of a report ― obtained by The Detroit News through a records request ― by the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of the Medical Inspector (OMI) last year following an on-site inspection in November 2021.
The hospital has since come under new leadership.
The OMI said one clinician had been the source of multiple investigations, tort claims and “poor veteran outcomes” for at least four years but still had been allowed to remain. Subordinates who spoke to OMI investigators said they feared “adverse actions” or retaliation if they reported concerns.
The OMI also validated a whistleblower’s allegation of “collusion” among senior leaders and a medical provider with “concerning clinical outcomes.” The OMI said leaders altered colonoscopy privileges for all general surgeons at the facility to avoid having to report one of them to the National Practitioner Data Bank.
That database, created by Congress, is a confidential repository that tracks cases of physician incompetence, misconduct and discipline ― including the restriction of physician privileges ― so that medical...
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