JEFF HERNDON
Dole VA Medical Center
WICHITA, Kan. — The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center passed its most-recent inspection by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) with no findings requiring corrective action, a first in the history of the medical center. Officials from Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 15 - Dole VA’s regional headquarters that oversees VA hospitals and clinics spread across four states - report it is the first time in at least 10 years one of its medical centers has accomplished this.
The OIG’s Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) is one element of the OIG’s overall efforts to ensure the nation’s Veterans receive high-quality and timely VA health care services. The OIG inspects each facility approximately every three years and selects and evaluates specific areas of focus each year. At the time of this inspection, the OIG focused on core processes in the following five areas of clinical and administrative operations:
1. Leadership and organizational risks
2. Quality, safety, and value
3. Medical staff privileging
4. Environment of care
5. Mental health (focusing on suicide prevention initiatives)
The OIG initiated the unannounced inspection of the Dole VA Medical Center during the week of March 6, 2023, releasing its final report on Feb. 1, 2024. No recommendations for improvement related to the areas reviewed were issued.
“VHA’s mission is to honor America’s Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being,” said Ashley Lunkenheimer, chief of Dole VA’s quality management department. “Dole VA was privileged to be independently, thoroughly, and objectively surveyed by OIG, who works to ensure we not only meet the standard but rise above it and cultivate a place of health care that Veterans can trust.”
The OIG’s report concluded the “medical center’s FY 2022 inpatient satisfaction survey scores indicated patients were more satisfied with the care they received” at Dole VA when compared to VHA patients nationally and that “scores also indicated patients were satisfied with their primary and specialty care experiences.”
“This remarkable achievement highlights each staff member’s commitment to excellence,” said Michael Payne, Dole VA Medical Center Director. “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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