MDG earns outstanding rating for inspection Published May 20, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Janine Thibault 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- For the first time in six years the 354th Medical Group received an "outstanding" rating from the civilian and Air Force health inspection team. The Health Services Inspection makes the determination of whether the medical organization is designated as a clinic or hospital. The inspectors evaluate the sustained performance of the clinic by checking the facility's electronic documents as well as examining hands-on procedures. Every three years the medical group is inspected by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and the Air Force Inspection Agency. The facility cannot practice medicine until they earn this certification. "We are now preparing for 2014's inspection," said Maj. Edward Cassin, 354th MDG administrator. "The history of our performance starts the day after the inspection. This isn't a license to slow down; this is a validation that the tempo we're at is right. "For us, we are nothing but a box with people in it without that accreditation," said Maj. Cassin. The group is graded on three major categories - and 1,600 specific elements -- which are divided into related areas that must meet standards. The HSI is similar to a Unit Compliance Inspection except if the HSI is not passed, the failure must be explained to the surgeon general. The public health clinic was inspected in areas including occupational health, food inspection and deployment medicine programs. It was important to make sure everything was in compliance. By getting it right the first time, public health personnel ensure they are not required to be inspected again by the major command SG. A re-inspection would require a corrective action plan and a study to determine the issue. It makes it difficult to operate if the clinic doesn't score well. "This score validates what the MDG Icemen are doing everyday as we provide good service to the population," said Tech. Sgt. Tina Ablang, 354th Medical Operations Squadron public health NCO in-charge of force health management. Documents are reviewed six months in advance so personnel can ensure the documents are prepared and are in accordance with standards. The inspectors shadowed the medical staff for two days of the inspection. One inspector visited public health and asked individuals in the group to demonstrate and describe how to perform several tasks. According to Sergeant Ablang, the inspector asked the public health staff to tell him how to conduct a food inspection and how they would interview a patient. The Airman described the method to the inspector to show that they knew how to perform the task. "Some of the Airmen and midlevel and junior NCOs drove this inspection's performance," she said. "They were key to us being as effective as we are as a medical group. The score is a direct reflection of their performance." "You don't get the attaboy and then just rest on your laurels, you have to sustain your momentum," said Maj. Cassin. By maintaining the same quality provided to patients every day, the medical staff was able to meet and exceed the standards set by the inspectors. Patients will continue to receive the same care shown to the evaluators that earned the clinic an outstanding rating.