VA hospital in D.C. has been running out of supplies

A federal watchdog agency has found many "serious and troubling deficiencies" at the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center "that place patients at unnecessary risk," according to a report released Wednesday. For example, the hospital ran out of bloodlines for dialysis patients and tubing that provides oxygen through a patient's nose, and it stocked expired products. Many supply areas that are supposed to be sterile also were found to be dirty.

Bottom line: The Veterans Health Administration has been under fire for years for long wait times and inadequate patient care. The latest federal report indicates the system still has a long way to go.