Medics get double dose of good news Published April 10, 2007 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- In a word, the 81st Medical Group is "excellent." That's the rating the group received from the Air Force Inspection Agency Health Services inspection team at the formal out brief Friday to the 81st MDG executive staff and Brig. Gen. Paul Capasso, 81st Training Wing commander. Just as significantly, the Joint Commission, a national civilian hospital accreditation agency, declared Keesler Medical Center remains accredited during their out brief one day earlier. The Joint Commission surveyors maintain an ongoing dialog of events between official onsite "surveys" and doesn't give ratings. Both the HSI team chief, Col. (Dr.) Gary Forthman, and the Joint Commission team chief, Beverly Gaddy, commended all 81st MDG members for the extraordinary effort they expended to reconstitute the medical center and its programs following the Aug. 29, 2005, devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Colonel Forthman explained the HSI inspectors reviewed four categories encompassing a total of 17 areas and 1,117 elements during their portion of the double-barreled look at the group's compliance survey conducted April 3-5. "We are a compliance-oriented agency," he explained. "We saw that you are operationally doing a excellent job for any hospital not affected by a catastrophe such as Katrina. Add in the progress you have made since Katrina and it's a testament to your leadership." The team leader stressed the inspectors didn't "cut any slack" and still found the results "inspirational." In the end, the 81st MDG received seven excellent and seven outstanding ratings out of 17 areas scored. "Fourteen excellents and outstandings is nothing short of phenomenal," Colonel Forthman remarked. He concluded the formal report by stating, "The rating for the 81st Medical Group is 'excellent.' I can assure you, you deserve it." Commenting on the medical group's inspection results, General Capasso said, "You've been through a tough inspection and you've done great. I congratulate each and every one of you. You and your folks have done a phenomenal job. I'm very, very proud of you." Brig. Gen. James Dougherty, 81st MDG commander, added, "I think everyone (in the 81st MDG) would tell you the past 18 months have been extraordinary. Everyone, from the executive staff to the lowest level, has done a phenomenal job. There are some real heroes in this organization and we are going to find every one of them and show them our appreciation." General Dougherty noted there have been no outstanding ratings given to Air Force Medical Service organizations by the AFIA HSI surveyors in the past two years. Before his formal presentation, Colonel Forthman recognized three individuals and members of the group's process improvement and regulatory compliance department for their efforts: Senior Airman Cassandra Day, 81st Dental Squadron; Master Sgt. Kelly Vernon, 81st Medical Operations Squadron; and Lt. Col. Barbara Henning, 81st MDG. In addition, the colonel presented AFIA coins to Master Sgt. Nicole Pearson, PIRC, surveyor team liaison, and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Wiese, noncommissioned officer in charge of the PIRC, for hosting the Joint Commission and HSI surveyor teams.