Hospital comes out on top in two inspections Published May 29, 2009 By Lois Walsh Team Eglin Public Affairs EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 96th Medical Group got great news recently when the results of two inspections were announced. Eglin's hospital retained its accreditation by the Joint Commission and received the highest rating from the Air Force Inspection Agency's Medical Operations Directorate which performs Health Services Inspections of all military medical units. "Accreditation of a hospital by the Joint Commission means it has achieved the highest standards of medical practice, safety and patient care," said Col. Tama Van Decar, 96th MDG commander. "Similarly, an Outstanding rating by the Health Services Inspection means that the 96 MDG achieved the highest standards in support of the military healthcare mission; ensuring world class healthcare both at home and deployed." Although the inspections ran concurrently, their focus differed. The Joint Commission standards address the hospital's performance in specific areas, and specify requirements to ensure that patient care is provided in a safe manner and in a secure environment. The HSIs assesses the functioning and execution of medical service programs and processes at the local level in order to provide senior leadership with accurate data upon which to base policy decisions. HSI also assess the ability of Air Force medical units to fulfill their peacetime and wartime missions. According to Maj. Rebecca Carter, a bioenvironmental engineer with the 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron and project officer for the HSI inspection, the hospital had seven days notice before the team arrived. She handled coordinating the logistics of 15 inspectors for five days. Colonel Van Decar pointed out that the hospital remained fully operational, servicing patients throughout. "In order to look at how the medical group takes care of patients and performs the readiness mission, these inspectors needed to watch the hospital in action," she said. "To that end, it was imperative that the medical group continue to provide all services to our beneficiaries during this time." Quality officer Donna Monan said the hospital maintains its high standards through its self-inspection program. There are more than 3,500 Joint Commission and HSI elements of performance that are constantly addressed. "The HSI looks at sustainment, that we've met the standards for the last three years," Ms. Monan said. Ms. Monan said the hospital completes self inspections twice a year because the standards change and those changes must be incorporated into the checklists. An additional self inspection was performed in January to ensure there were no additional changes to the standards. "Even though we're allowed to have a six-month leeway for implementation, you have to be ready all the time," she said. Ms. Monan credits squadron leadership involvement with the hospital's success and said that while the HSI singles out outstanding areas in expeditionary medical, in-garrison medical and leadership, everyone is an outstanding performer by virtue of the rating the hospital received. "The success of the medical group during these recent inspection is a direct reflection of the skill, compassion, and dedication of the almost 1,500 medical staff as well as a tribute to the incredible support provided the hospital by the 96 ABW and Team Eglin," Colonel Van Decar concluded. Expeditionary Medical outstanding areas Medical Readiness Planning & Oversight Deployment Processing Operational Medicine Epidemiology & Public Health Surveillance In-Garrison Outstanding areas Worker Protection Dentistry Mental Health Clinical Services Leadership outstanding areas Business Management Human Resource Management Community Support