# Alleged Deficiencies in the Management of Staff Exposure to a Patient with COVID-19 at the VA Portland Health Care System in Oregon
> **Inspection / Evaluation** by Department of Veterans Affairs OIG · 2020-08-27
> *About: Department of Veterans Affairs*
## Report
- **Title:** Alleged Deficiencies in the Management of Staff Exposure to a Patient with COVID-19 at the VA Portland Health Care System in Oregon
- **Submitting OIG:** Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
- **Component agency:** Department of Veterans Affairs
- **Type:** Inspection / Evaluation
- **Publication date:** 2020-08-27

## Summary

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection to determine the validity of allegations related to the management of staff exposure to a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 at the VA Portland Medical Center (facility) in Oregon. The events under review involved the facility’s first patient diagnosed with COVID-19. The OIG did not substantiate that emergency department staff failed to notify imaging department staff that a patient was suspected to have COVID-19 before sending the patient to the imaging department.


## Recommendations

- **Rec 1** (Closed): The Portland VA Health Care System Director ensures that a consistent notification process is implemented and monitored to ensure the sending department notifies the receiving department of a patient’s potential infectious disease status prior to…
- **Rec 2** (Closed): The Portland VA Health Care System Director ensures that the standard process for contact tracing for staff exposure to high-consequence infections such as COVID-19 includes a process for identification of potentially exposed staff who cannot be…
- **Rec 3** (Closed): The Portland VA Health Care System Director ensures that standard processes for assessment of staff exposure to high-consequence infections such as COVID-19, including a process for validation of supervisors’ initial risk categorizations, are…
- **Rec 4** (Closed): The Portland VA Health Care System Director ensures that standard processes are implemented and monitored for tracking staff exposure, providing guidance on self-monitoring, self-quarantine, and returning to work, and documenting Employee Health…
- **Rec 5** (Closed): The Portland VA Health Care System Director ensures facility policies are reviewed and updated to include a detailed staff exposure management process to leverage lessons learned from the current pandemic response and to enhance preparedness for…
## Source
- [oversight.gov report page](https://www.oversight.gov/reports/alleged-deficiencies-management-staff-exposure-patient-covid-19-va-portland-health-care)
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