DENVER – More than 1,600 new patients had to wait 90 days or longer for appointments at eastern Colorado Veterans Affairs medical centers, according to a department audit released Monday.

The report also showed as many as 115 patients faced the prolonged waits at western Colorado facilities – despite the department’s stated 14-day goal.

The findings were based on an audit of 731 VA hospitals and large outpatient clinics nationwide on a single day in May. A total of more than 57,000 patients faced delays of 90 days or longer, the report said. The review also indicated that 13 percent of schedulers reported being told by supervisors to falsify appointment schedules to make patient waits appear shorter.

VA officials now say the 14-day target was unattainable given existing resources and growing demand.

Colorado officials blamed delays on rapid growth in the number of new veterans enrolling in the system and periodic shortages of doctors and other providers.

“We’re one of the fastest-growing VAs in the United States,” said eastern Colorado VA system spokesman Paul Warvi.

He said the 1,600 patients on the 90-day-plus list represent only 2.5 percent of the more than 66,000 appointments scheduled that day but said it was still a significant number.