81st Medical Group prepares for two no-notice reviews Published Jan. 20, 2010 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AFB, Ms. -- Members of the 81st Medical Group are "crossing the t's and dotting the i's" as they fine-tune all aspects of the varied elements necessary to provide top-notch medical service at Keesler community in anticipation of two major inspections in 2010. The tandem survey by The Joint Commission and Health Service Inspection by the Air Force Inspection Agency are no-notice reviews conducted every three years. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 17,000 health-care organizations and programs in the US, including more than 9,500 hospitals. It's the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. According to Col. Robert Cothron, 81st MDG medical center administrator, civilian health care organizations voluntarily pursue accreditation from The Joint Commission. However, it's essentially man-datory for Air Force hospitals. "The Joint Commission surveyors visit accredited hospitals at least once every three years to evaluate standards compliance. This visit is called a survey, and since 2006 all surveys have been unannounced. Joint Commis-sion surveyors are highly-trained experts in their respective fields of expertise -- physicians, nurses, administrators, clinical engineers and others. The colonel noted, "The objective of the survey is not only to evaluate the hospital but to provide education and guidance that will help the staff continue to improve the hospital's performance. The survey process evaluates actual care processes by tracing patients through the care, treatment and services they received." Joint Commission standards focus on patient safety and quality of care and are updated regularly to reflect the rapid advances in health care and medicine. "More than 250 standards address everything from patient rights and education, infection control, medication management and preventing medical errors, to how the hospital verifies its professional staff is qualified and competent, how it prepares for emergencies and how it collects data on its performance and uses that data to improve itself," the colonel said. The Air Force Inspection Agency at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is a field operating agency of the Secretary of the Air Force Inspector General and is the primary action arm of its inspection system. The Medical Operations Directorate, one of five AFIA directorates, performs Health Services Inspections of all Air Force active-duty, Reserve and Guard medical units worldwide in partnership with expert civilian accrediting agencies such as The Joint Commission. AFIA performs 20-25 active-duty HSIs a year. "An HSI is conducted by nine medical inspectors who ensure compliance with Defense Department and Air Force instructions and regulations," the colonel observed. "An AFIA team conducting an active-duty HSI is comprised of eight officers and one enlisted member, each averaging more than 25 years experience in the Air Force Medical Service. Many are graduated group commanders, squadron commanders and group superintendents."