Summary: A review examined the extent to which the Veterans Administration (VA) has assumed responsibility for the graduate medical education of physicians and the effectiveness of VA management of the graduate medical program. Aspects studied included the authority for conducting graduate education in VA medical facilities, the adequacy of VA policies and regulations in guiding VA medical centers, and the extent to which VA monitors the program to insure that it is administered properly.
Improvements are needed in the overall management and administration of the VA residency program. Unclear VA regulations governing the assignment and pay of residents resulted in residents being assigned without exchange or replacement to non-VA facilities for significant periods of time with no VA pay loss, and residents participating in numerous educational activities in non-VA facilities at VA expense. Two of the medical centers assumed greater financial responsibility for training and educating residents than intended by existing VA regulations.
