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Cannon clinic earns IG "excellent" rating

  • Published
  • By Roberta Williams
  • 27th Special Operations Medical Group
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The "Mighty Medics" of the 27th Special Operations Medical Group earned an "Excellent" rating during their triennial Inspector General Air Force Health Services Inspection, Feb. 9-13.
 
The HSI team assesses Air Force Medical Service programs and processes to provide senior wing and Air Force leadership with accurate assessments of a medical unit's ability to fulfill its peacetime and wartime missions, and includes medical care evaluation and the support of the host wing's mission. 

The HSI is a rigorous and thorough test of the three major medical mission areas - expeditionary medical operations, in-garrison medical operations and leadership - and encompasses  more than over 1,100 inspection items. 

In conjunction with the HSI, the 27 SOMDG was also surveyed by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, a civilian accrediting agency that assists the Air Force to ensure that care and services delivered in its military treatment facilities meet or exceed national standards. The 27 SOMDG leadership is optimistic the group receive a second-consecutive 3-year accreditation--the best outcome possible--when the final report and decision letter is received in 45 days. 

Two teams of 12 inspectors closely scrutinized medical group documentation, questioned staff about policies and procedures, asked patients about the care they received and observed medical and dental procedures to ensure required  standards were met. 

The HSI grade is based on the standard five-tier evaluation system: outstanding, excellent, satisfactory, marginal and unsatisfactory. Of the 16 HSI categories, 27 SOMDG received eight "Outstanding," " three "Excellent" and five "Satisfactory" grades. Not a single inspection item scored less than satisfactory. Four of the outstanding scores were in deployment processing, force fitness, dentistry and clinical services, validating that the medical group is clearly meeting its war-time and home-station missions. 

"The 27 SOMDG is fulfilling the health care needs of the beneficiary population in an excellent manner while actively supporting the Department of Defense, Air Force Special Operations Command, and the 27th Special Operations Wing operational and contingency requirements," said HSI officials. 

In addition, the HSI team also recognized the following individuals as outstanding performers: Master Sgt. Terry Bernatis, Chief of Education and Training; Tech. Sgt Stephanie Holt, noncommissioned officer in charge of Public Health; and Tech. Sgt. JoLynn Kari, NCOIC of Medical Readiness. 

"We know this degree of compliance only comes via leadership, hard work and attention to detail," said Brig. Gen. Mark Ediger, Air Force Medical Operations Agency Commander. 

Col. Ken Hall, 27 SOMDG Special Operations Medical Group commander since June 2006, said that his team's daily commitment to provide the very best health care in support of  Cannon's active duty, retirees and their families that underpins the group's HSI success. 

"The HSI is extremely thorough and very intense," he said. "My folks, with the support of their loved ones, worked a lot of long hours, on weekends and holidays, preparing for this test. I'm so proud of them for this level of achievement and I'm especially pleased with the inspection outcome for not only our "mighty medics" but for our beneficiaries as well. This is the level of care they deserve and should expect." 

Col Hall also said that Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis recently completed their own major inspection, earning "full accreditation" from the Joint Commission, the national accrediting body for bedded hospitals. 

For more information on the 27 SOMDG's 2009 Health Services Inspection,  call 784-0784. 

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