Healthcare Facility Inspection of the VA Columbia Missouri Healthcare System

VA Office of Inspector General · Report 26-00046-284 · October 5, 2026 · Office of Healthcare Inspections

What the OIG found

OIG inspected the Columbia, Missouri system from February 10 through 12, 2026, with updates in April and July 2026, reviewing a high-complexity facility that provided direct care to about 44,000 patients in fiscal year 2025 across five domains: culture, environment of care, patient safety, integrated veteran care, and the veteran-centered safety net. The only finding came in environment of care, where inspectors observed dusty equipment and surfaces in several clinical areas that did not comply with VHA’s Comprehensive Environment of Care Program directive. Reviews of culture, test-result communication and other patient safety processes, staffing and access in primary and community care, and safety-net programs for vulnerable veterans produced no recommendations. OIG made a single recommendation that facility leaders take appropriate action so staff maintain a safe and clean environment, and facility and network leaders concurred with an acceptable action plan.

Who it concerns

VA Columbia Missouri Healthcare System

Why it matters to a family

For families, this report is mostly reassurance with one housekeeping failure: the processes for communicating test results and coordinating care drew no criticism, but the cleanliness of clinical areas where veterans are treated needed correction.

The official report

The OIG’s report page · Full report (PDF)

Summary ours; the report is the OIG’s. Read it at vaoig.gov →