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Here is a letter I received, as a representative of the Keystone Paralyzed Veterans of America.
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Good afternoon,

In mid-April the Secretary of Veterans Affairs directed the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to complete a nation-wide Access Audit to ensure a full understanding of VA’s policy among scheduling staff, identify any inappropriate scheduling practices used by employees regarding Veteran preferences for appointment dates, and review waiting list management. VA provided an interim Audit report to Congress and the public on May 30.

In addition to the Access Audit process, VA also gathered additional data from each facility. This data includes: the number of appointments scheduled at each facility; the number of requested appointments that are on each facility’s Electronic Wait List; the number of newly enrolled patients who have not yet been scheduled by facility; and Average Wait Times for Mental Health, Primary Care, and Specialty Care at each facility, for both new and established patients.

VA is already taking corrective action to address issues identified in the audit. Please see the attached press release which summarizes these actions.

At the below first two links you will find fact sheets explaining the data that is being posted.

You can find VHA’s full audit report, as well as facility level data at the following link:

www.va.gov/health/access-audit.asp

VA has also posted quality and efficiency information known as SAIL here: http://www.hospitalcompare.va.gov/index.asp

Additionally, VA has posted Mental Health Survey results from VA providers from the last two years here:

http://www.hospitalcompare.va.gov/

If you have questions regarding this information, please contact the Director’s office at your local VA Medical Center.

With Regards,

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