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VA Health Care: Improved Oversight Needed for Reusable Medical Equipment

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Aug. 3, 2018
Release Date Sept. 4, 2018
Report No. GAO-18-474
Summary:

Reusable medical equipment, such as a flexible, camera-bearing endoscope, must be reprocessed between uses. It must be cleaned, disinfected or sterilized. The Veterans Health Administration has rules for such steps and oversees the process in VA Medical Centers.

We found VHA did not have complete reprocessing inspection results and can't ensure that its medical centers are following its rules. We also found VHA does not know whether its current workforce is adequate to operate reprocessing programs and ensure access to safe care for veterans.

We recommended that VHA take steps to ensure inspections occur and that it examine workforce needs.

An endoscope is a kind of reusable medical equipment

This is a photo of clinicians using an endoscope.

This is a photo of clinicians using an endoscope.

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