Wichita’s VA passes inspection, first time no corrective action needed

Laura McMillan
·1 min read

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Veterans Affairs hospital in Wichita did so well on its last inspection that inspectors did not recommend any fixes.

A Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center spokesperson said the Office of Inspector General (OIG) had no findings requiring corrective action, “a first in the history of the medical center.”

The VA says it is also the first time in at least 10 years that a VA hospital in the four-state region of Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois has accomplished this.

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The inspections happen approximately every three years. The OIG selects and evaluates the areas to focus on. The recent inspection focused on core processes in the following areas of clinical and administrative operations:

  • Leadership and organizational risks

  • Quality, safety, and value

  • Medical staff privileging

  • Environment of care

  • Mental health (focusing on suicide prevention initiatives)

The inspection of the Dole VA Medical Center was unannounced last March. The final report was released on Thursday:

Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the Robert J. Dole VA Medical CenterDownload

The report conclusion says the OIG did not issue improvement recommendations in the five inspected areas.

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“The lack of recommendations does not necessarily reflect the overall quality of all services delivered within this medical center,” the OIG concluded.

The inspectors reviewed three years of patient surveys, fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022. They said the surveys indicate that Dole VA patients were more satisfied with their care than Veterans Health Administration patients nationwide.

“This remarkable achievement highlights each staff member’s commitment to excellence,” Michael Payne, Dole VA Medical Center director, said in a news release. “It is our greatest honor to serve this nation’s veterans. They deserve the remarkable level of care we provide at Dole VA.”

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