81st Medical Group receives inpatient care recognition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Duncan McElroy
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs

The 81st Medical Group was recently recognized in the top 10 percent of all eligible hospitals for outstanding customer service and high-quality health care by feedback from the TRICARE Inpatient Satisfaction Survey for the first quarter of fiscal year 2015.

More than 8,400 Military Treatment Facility patients completed the TRISS Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2014. Seven MTFs scored in the top 25 percent, but Keesler was the only Defense Department hospital to score in the top 10.

 “When we found out about this, we blocked off the road, gathered the Medical Group outside, and shared the news to everyone,” said Col. (Dr.) Thomas Harrell, 81st MDG commander. “There was probably two-thirds of the hospital out there; it was great.”

Approximately 1,600 Airmen, DOD civilians and contractors work in the Keesler Medical Center.

In order to qualify for this recognition, hospitals had to receive scores of 9 or 10 on a 1-10 scale from patients who took the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. The HCAHPS is a nationally accepted, standardized survey tool used to measure inpatient perceptions of care, and allows transparency between civilian and military hospitals.

 “It felt really good to share this news,” Harrell said. “At the end I read off some of the comments patients submitted, and everyone was roaring. Everyone was so proud.

“It’s a reflection of how amazingly dedicated our entire staff is,” he continued. “It may be an inpatient award, but every single member of this hospital contributes to patient care whether they lay their hands directly on a patient or not. Everybody contributed to receiving this recognition. This was the first time we were scored against civilian hospitals, and we came out near the top. That’s a testament to just how committed our staff is.”