NEW HAVEN, CT—Connecticut’s delegation to the House of Representatives wrote to Director of the Veterans Affairs CT Healthcare System, Gerald F. Culliton, requesting a status update on how they are meeting the recommendations outlined in a recent Inspector General report. The letter can be viewed here.

“We understand that since the report was issued in June, the Center has taken steps to implement the Inspector General’s recommendations,” they wrote. “We want to work with you to fully and swiftly implement all the report’s recommendations to ensure the brave men and women who sacrificed for our country get the proper care they deserve…With final implementation of policies to sustain these changes required by the IG by March 15, 2014, we respectfully request that you provide us with a status report on the IG recommendations met and plan for fully meeting all recommendations within the next month.”

According to the IG report:

• Cleaning procedures in the operating room were not being performed appropriately
• There were insufficient staff resources assigned to the operating room (OR)
• Recognized industry standards for cleaning were not being met
• Patients with infectious diseases who may require special precautions were being scheduled for procedures with patients who were not infectious
• OR staff were not always made aware of an infectious patient’s status prior to the patient’s arrival

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