14th MDG brings home excellent score

  • Published
  • By 14th Medical Group
  • Special to Silver Wings
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  A nine-member team from HQ AFIA, Directorate of Medical Operations, performed a Health Services Inspection of the 14th Medical Group from July 23 to 27. In the executive summary of their report, the team stated that the 14th Medical Group provides excellent health care to the beneficiary population of the 14th Flying Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command and the Department of Defense. Beneficiaries were satisfied with both the quality of the health care provided and the services available. 

The Deployment Processing and Referral Management programs were found to be extremely robust. The 14th Medical Group's programs provided very effective oversight and ensured both first-rate customer satisfaction and uncompromised healthcare oversight of the patients and the community. Four areas were given a score of outstanding, to include: Deployment Processing, Executive Oversight, Business Management and Human Resource Management. 

According to the inspection team, "The Medical Group Commander and her executive leadership team are a dynamic and cohesive group actively engaged and committed to maximizing readiness, health care availability, and ensuring the 14th MDG provides superior health care to the Columbus AFB community." 

In addition to the four outstanding areas, 10 areas scored excellent and two scored satisfactory. There were no areas deemed to be unsatisfactory or marginal. 

Colonel Susan Hall, 14th MDG commander, was thrilled with the results. "Our personnel work hard to stay continuously ready for inspections, but we all know that a lot of blood, sweat and tears were poured into the final touch ups and record reviews. I just can't say enough how proud I am of all of them. When I arrived, we set the goal to score higher than the previous inspection. The other incredible aspect of this result is the youth of our personnel. Most are in their first duty assignment and have never been through an Inspector General inspection, so to achieve this score was just phenomenal. The few experienced folks stepped up to the plate and led their sections to excellent and outstanding scores. What an experience to carry into the rest of their careers. I am so proud of them!" 

In the past year, the Air Force Medical Service transitioned away from the civilian accreditation agency, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which traditionally inspects hospitals. Now, all ambulatory facilities, including the 14th MDG, are inspected by a civilian team from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. So in addition to the IG team, the MDG concurrently met their initial inspection by the three-member AAAHC team. The results of that inspection could range from a year accreditation, the highest possible score, to a variety of less desirable outcomes. Due to their inspection validation process, the final decision on accreditation will not be available from the AAAHC until the final report arrives in 45 days. 

"They hit the mark and would have gone higher if our 2nd floor renovation had been completed in time for the Mental Health Clinic to move into their new space," said Col. Hall. 

While the inspectors did suggest a few minor areas for improvement, they were very impressed with the 14th MDG and all said they would love to enroll their families here.