OIG Monthly Work Plan Review: July 2019

This month there is only one new Work Plan item. Although it doesn’t directly impact laboratory operations, it may be of interest to some labs. Quality of Maternal Healthcare in Indian Health Service Hospitals Issue: Maternal mortality and morbidity are increasing in the United States, and up to 60 percent of maternal deaths may be preventable. Although the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issues guidance on safe practices during labor and delivery intended to help reduce maternal mortality and other complications, early analysis of medical record review results for the study Adverse Events in Indian Health Service Hospitals identified instances in which Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital providers did not follow recommended practices and may have put patients at unnecessary risk. Failure to follow recommended practices is not necessarily improper and does not always cause patient harm, but it may indicate substandard quality of care. OIG Action: OIG will use medical record reviews by an obstetrician/gynecologist specializing in patient safety to identify and describe examples of potentially substandard care during labor and delivery in IHS hospitals. These anecdotes may help IHS to target hospital improvement efforts. OIG will also identify factors that may be related to the potentially substandard […]