The Hampton VA Medical Center inappropriately discharged a terminally ill veteran from its emergency room and failed to provide him hospice care requested by his wife, a federal investigation has found.
Investigators from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General found that staff members at the Hampton center were unaware of a VA policy requiring that end-of-life care be provided when veterans and their families ask for it.
In response to the investigation, the Hampton center has provided training for its entire clinical staff in the VA's end-of-life care policies.
She took him home but, even with the help of a family member, was unable to get him out of the car. She called 911 and paramedics took him to a local private hospital, where he was admitted.
His doctor there contacted the VA and requested hospice care. The veteran was scheduled for admission to the VA's hospice unit five days later.
Two days before the scheduled transfer date, he died.
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