VA medical center mismailing leaves nearly 250 vets with the wrong test results

One patient learned he had warning signs of colon cancer – a disease that killed a parent – only to receive a second postcard that he was in the clear. Then a third card arrived:  a correction saying his tests were, in fact, positive. 

"Cancer is something we don't play around with," Army veteran Kerry Denison, an Atlanta VA Medical Center patient, said of the diagnosis.

In April, a physical Denison got at the VA's Ft. McPherson clinic included blood work and other tests to rule out things like colon cancer. 

A couple weeks later, the VA sent him a letter with the bad news.  Then, a couple weeks later, he got a card showing those same tests came back negative.

He cancelled a follow-up appointment related to the cancer scare – and then got the third card.

“Along with the third card was an admission that the VA inadvertently sent Denison another veteran’s negative test results,” WSB-TV reports.

Veterans Affairs sent the TV station a statement saying:
 
“In May 2014, a clerical error occurred with the printing and mailing of test results for approximately 249 Veterans.  As soon as the issue was identified, we sent out a letter apologizing for the incident and provided each individual with their correct test results.  An investigation was conducted and process improvements were implemented to ensure that this does not happen again.  

“We have reached out to Mr. Denison and as soon as he is available we will work with him to continue the coordination of his care.  

“We are sorry for any confusion and inconvenience that this may have caused our Veterans.  The Atlanta VA Medical Center is dedicated to providing world class health care to this nation’s heroes, our Veterans.”

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