Reporting and Monitoring Personal Protective Equipment Inventory during the Pandemic
Review · Department of Veterans Affairs OIG · 2021-02-24 · about Department of Veterans Affairs
Report
Title
Reporting and Monitoring Personal Protective Equipment Inventory during the Pandemic
Submitting OIG
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Component agency
Department of Veterans Affairs
Type
Review
Publication date
2021-02-24
Summary
The spread of COVID-19 drastically increased the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, and gowns, and significantly disrupted the global supply chain. As the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) had to compete for PPE for its personnel and patients. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) received hotline allegations that VHA medical facilities could not acquire and maintain enough PPE to keep pace with escalating needs. The OIG assessed how VHA reported and monitored PPE supply levels during the pandemic.
Recommendations (2)
#
Status
Text
1
Closed
Provide specific guidance for personnel in facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Network offices to report expired personal protective equipment supplies into the Response Monitoring Tool and refine the tool to allow the entry of expired supply…
2
Closed
Communicate effective verification measures for facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks to improve the reliability and consistency of reported personal protective equipment on-hand quantity and usage information.