United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Health, Education, and Human Services Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1997-07-28 monographic deposited born digital 11 p. GA 1.13:T-HEHS-97-191 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-97-191 P0b002ee18039744c f:he97191t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-97-191 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-97-191 T-HEHS-97-191 Hospital planning Federal agency reorganization Veterans hospitals Health care cost control Health services administration Health resources utilization Montgomery (AL) VA Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System Tuskegee (AL) Testimony HEHS GAO discussed its ongoing work on the integration of medical facilities operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Tuskegee and Montgomery, Alabama.<p/>GAO noted that: (1) on the basis of GAO's work to date, it appears that both Atlanta network and Montgomery and Tuskegee facility officials have made a lot of progress in planning for this integration, and benefits have already been realized; (2) planning activities, however, are yet to be completed, including: (a) making key decisions on whether and how to restructure certain services, such as nutrition and food services; (b) fully assessing the probable impact of clinical, administrative, and patient support service changes on veterans and employees; and (c) determining how savings will be reinvested to benefit veterans; (3) moreover, some stakeholders have found it difficult, if not impossible, to assess the reasonableness of VA's decisions and to ultimately buy in to them without the benefit of information from completed planning activities facilitywide; and (4) because integrating facilities involves inherently difficult issues and requires careful planning, it seems important for VA to complete its planning in sufficient detail to ensure that benefits are maximized and adverse impacts minimized. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-97-191/html/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-97-191.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-97-191/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-97-191.pdf GAO/T-HEHS-97-191 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-97-191 Testimony GAO/T-HEHS-97-191; VA Health Care: Opportunities to Enhance Montgomery and Tuskegee Service Integration; Hospital planning Federal agency reorganization Veterans hospitals Health care cost control Health services administration Health resources utilization Montgomery (AL) VA Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System Tuskegee (AL)