VA Health Care: VA Should Better Monitor Implementation and Impact of Capital Asset Alignment Decisions
Abstract
Through its Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates one of the largest health care systems in the country. In 1999, GAO reported that better management of VA's large inventory of aged capital assets could result in savings that could be used to enhance health care services for veterans. In response, VA initiated a process known as Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES). Through CARES, VA sought to enhance veteran care by the appropriate sizing, upgrading, and locating of VA facilities. GAO was asked to examine the CARES process. Specifically, GAO examined (1) how CARES contributes to VHA's capital planning process, (2) the extent to which the CARES process considered capital asset alignment alternatives, and (3) the extent to which VA has implemented CARES decisions and how this implementation has helped VA carry out its mission. To address these issues, we analyzed CARES documents, interviewed VA officials, and conducted six site visits, among other things.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- AD1179460
Entities
People
- Cindy Gilbert
- Colin Fallon
- Daniel Hoy
- Ed Laughlin
- Emily Hampton-manley
- James Jr Musselwhite
- Jennifer Kim
- Mark L. Goldstein
- Mireya Almazan
- Nikki Clowers
- Susan Michal-smith
- Teresa Abruzzo
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office