Thursday, July 14, 2011

Veterans Health Care: Atlanta, GA VAMC - Feds rap Ga. VA clinics for excessive wait times

The Source

Several mental health clinics serving Georgia veterans had significantly high patient wait times over the last fiscal year and were slow to respond to the problem, according to a federal report issued Tuesday.
According to VHA guidelines, patients on the electronic wait list "must receive an initial evaluation within 24 hours, and a more comprehensive diagnostic and treatment planning evaluation within 14 days." New patients include anyone not seen by a qualifying provider in a specific clinic within the previous 24 months.

The confidential complaint alleged that a high number of patients were on various mental health clinic electronic waiting lists and that facility management were aware of a potential risk to patients and took no actions to resolve the issue.

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