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VA Heart Attack Care
April 17, 2003 | News & Links |
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According to a VA study released last week, heart attack victims who went
to Veterans Affairs hospitals during 1997 through 1999 had higher death
rates than Medicare patients treated in civilian hospitals. The study also
found that the VA patients were less likely than Medicare patients to have
procedures such as angioplasty, angiography or surgery. Furthermore, the
study found that 50.2 percent of them who had heart attacks in 1997 died
three years later, compared with 40.5 percent of Medicare patients. Death
percentages were also higher after two years and one year. The study
involved some 4,000 heart attack victims annually from 1997-99. VA
Secretary Anthony Principi said immediate action is required and will be
taken. He ordered a review of cardiac care at all VA facilities, called
for modernization of high-volume sites, and ordered that 24/7 care be
available for heart attack victims at VA facilities.
To view the entire report please visit:
http://www.va.gov/opp/eval/1_Table%20of%20Contents.pdf | |