BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A federal audit has found the Veterans Affairs facility in Baltimore has the fourth longest average wait time for new patient primary care.

The audit released Monday found that the VA Maryland Health Care System Baltimore had an average wait time of 81 days for new patients. The wait is more than five times the 14 days the VA set as guidelines, which have since been abandoned.

The department says the 14-day guideline can’t be met due to existing resources and growing demand.

The audit was released by the Department of Veterans. Nationally, the audit found that more than 57,000 patients are still waiting for initial medical appointments at VA hospitals and clinics 90 days or more after requesting them.

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