460th MDG passes inspection with flying colors

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  • 460th Medical Group
The 460th Medical Group just passed its tri-annual Health Services Inspection (HSI), receiving an overall Outstanding rating for the Jan. 11 to 14 evaluation conducted by the Air Force Inspection Agency. A HSI assesses medical readiness, management effectiveness and quality of health-care delivery at Air Force medical units, evaluating whether or not health-care providers and nurses are performing successfully while supporting readiness. The HSI inspection is comparable to a unit compliance inspection (UCI) but with focus on health care.

In conjunction with the HSI, there was a team of four Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care Surveyors, which is a private, non-profit organization formed to assist ambulatory health care organizations improve the quality of care provided to patients, similar to an Operational Readiness Inspection. Unlike the HSI, the AAAHC provided a survey summation with accolades, but the final Accreditation result is determined in the next 45 to 60 days.

"This inspection rating validates the quality care we provide to our Airmen and their families." said Lt. Col. Gianna Zeh, 460th Medical Group, Chief of the Medical Staff.

"It also ensures that we are meeting all other healthcare needs and keeping active-duty members ready for war." said Lt. Col. Scot Spann, 460th Medical Support Squadron commander and group administrator.

The inspectors looked at the past 24 months of expeditionary medical operations, in-garrison medical operations and leadership. Staff prepared by gathering documents, submitting reports, evaluating their processes and conducting follow-ups, similar to what the inspectors did while they were here. Furthermore, leadership committed to having an outside subject matter expert come in and provide an unbiased look at every area prior to the inspection, modeled after the 460th Space Wings preparation effort for the 2010 ORI/UCI.

"During the inspection the inspectors went through everything with a fine-tooth comb," Col. Bob Tetla, 460th Medical Group commander, said. "It's very rigorous and exact. But when everything is said and done, it's a big sigh of relief to get the final results and say goodbye to the inspectors as they depart."

HSIs are conducted to provide senior Air Force leadership with accurate data upon which to base policy decisions. HSIs also give medical units a thorough, accurate assessment of their ability to fulfill their peacetime and wartime missions. Only 5 of 26 inspections in 2010 received this highest rating of outstanding, putting the 460th Medical Group in the top 20 percent of medical facilities across the Air Force.

Colonel Tetla attributes this success to leadership and teamwork. "We had contributions from Civilians and Contractors as well as all military members from one-stripers to O-6s."