However, FTEE and operating beds decreased by six percent and five percent, respectively. This seems inconsistent since FTEE and operating beds would be the primary source of expenditures. In addition, the SMI Committee report also includes the FY 97 report from Dr. Robert Rosenheck on the Mental Health Performance Monitoring System. The American Legion finds this to be a significant reporting mechanism, and has referred to it several times when conducting its own site visits. The mental health report card is a valuable tool in assessing quality of care, which is a crucial element in accessing capacity.
Capacity becomes meaningless without incorporating quality and patient satisfaction.
The American Legion would like to take this opportunity to share previous experience with trying to analyze the data VA currently has submitted to Congress. The American Legion Field Service visited the Cleveland VAMC Center of Excellence for Homeless Veterans during February 18-20, 1998. At that time, Field Service Representatives identified concerns with VA data on homeless veterans treated, and the dollars spent on these services. She goes on to explain how the problem arose, and provides a new FY 97 figure of 432 veterans served. However, according to the report released to Congress Appendix A, Table 1A-5b, the FY 97 figure for veterans seen in Cleveland is 498.