# Care Concerns and the Impact of COVID-19 on a Patient at the Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System in North Carolina
> **Inspection / Evaluation** by Department of Veterans Affairs OIG · 2021-09-27
> *About: Department of Veterans Affairs*
## Report
- **Title:** Care Concerns and the Impact of COVID-19 on a Patient at the Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System in North Carolina
- **Submitting OIG:** Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
- **Component agency:** Department of Veterans Affairs
- **Type:** Inspection / Evaluation
- **Publication date:** 2021-09-27

## Summary

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection at the Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System in North Carolina to assess concerns related to the quality, coordination, and timeliness of care, and the impact of COVID-19 on a patient with unintentional weight loss who was later diagnosed with oral cancer and died at another VA medical center.The OIG substantiated that the primary care provider and dietitians did not provide quality care to the patient.


## Recommendations

- **Rec 05** (Closed): The Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System Director ensures that non-VA dental appointments are scheduled within recommended time frames by the Community Care program scheduling staff and monitors compliance.
- **Rec 1** (Closed): The Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System Director ensures that dietitians comply with conducting and documenting comprehensive nutrition assessments, including patients’ weight measurements, changes to nutrition diagnosis, chewing and swallowing…
- **Rec 2** (Closed): The Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System Director ensures there is consistent communication and coordination of care between the Patient Aligned Care Team registered nurses and the primary care providers.
- **Rec 3** (Closed): The Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System Director provides guidance on care coordination between outpatient dietitians and primary care providers when a higher level of nutrition intervention is required.
- **Rec 4** (Closed): The Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System Director monitors that follow-up appointments for dietitians are scheduled as ordered.
- **Rec 6** (Closed): The Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System Director evaluates the COVID-19 scheduling practices and the impact of telephone appointments on the patient’s care.
## Source
- [oversight.gov report page](https://www.oversight.gov/reports/care-concerns-and-impact-covid-19-patient-fayetteville-va-coastal-health-care-system-north)
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