# Review of Highly Rural Community-Based Outpatient Clinics Limited Access to Select Specialty Care
> **Inspection / Evaluation** by Department of Veterans Affairs OIG · 2020-07-07
> *About: Department of Veterans Affairs*
## Report
- **Title:** Review of Highly Rural Community-Based Outpatient Clinics Limited Access to Select Specialty Care
- **Submitting OIG:** Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
- **Component agency:** Department of Veterans Affairs
- **Type:** Inspection / Evaluation
- **Publication date:** 2020-07-07

## Summary

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed the accessibility of dermatology, orthopedics, and urology specialty care for patients in the 17 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) classified as highly rural. The OIG also reviewed accessibility, barriers, and the availability and utilization of resources for the time frame March 1, 2018 (or from the date the CBOC became highly rural), through February 28, 2019.


## Recommendations

- **Rec 1** (Closed): The Under Secretary for Health completes a specialty care needs assessment for highly rural community-based outpatient clinics to include internet bandwidth and telehealth equipment and develops options for the delivery of safe patient care.
- **Rec 2** (Closed): The Under Secretary for Health ensures that the Veterans Health Administration Site Tracking system validation process is completed by each Veterans Integrated Service Network as required and monitors for compliance.
- **Rec 3** (Closed): The Under Secretary for Health ensures that facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks maintain accurate and current information on websites as required and monitors for compliance.
- **Rec 4** (Closed): The Under Secretary for Health completes an assessment to determine whether highly rural community-based outpatient clinics that are located in a non-VA community hospital or health care center are fully utilizing the resources available at the non-VA…
## Source
- [oversight.gov report page](https://www.oversight.gov/reports/review-highly-rural-community-based-outpatient-clinics-limited-access-select-specialty-care)
---
*AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*