23d MDG certified as quality health care provider

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Zachary Wolf
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The 23d Medical Group recently earned a three-year accreditation from The Joint Commission, during surveys conducted Nov. 17 through the 19, 2015.

This accreditation is the civilian standard and comprises of 213 standards and 1,099 line items. While civilian health care facilities have the same line items and standards, Moody's medical group has the added expectation of military requirements that would not be common in the civilian world.

Agencies, such as The Joint Commission, that specialize in accreditation, go to health care facilities, both civilian and military, and conduct surveys to ensure that they meet standards for safe quality health care.

The Air Force has said all health care facilities will attain this three-year accreditation to ensure military members, retirees and families receive the best care possible.

While the 23d MDG prepared for the survey, the Air Force Surgeon General changed the contracted accrediting organization from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. to The Joint Commission, just six months before Moody's current accreditation expired.

This didn't deter the 23d MDG from earning their accreditation and Col. Peter Breed, 23d MDG commander, said it was just like using a different yardstick to measure yourself.

"This accreditation confirms that we are providing the same, if not better, healthcare that our beneficiaries would be getting downtown at civilian facilities," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Tamar Sautter, 23d MDG chief of medical staff.

One medical group leader echoed Sautter's assurance about ensuring Airmen are getting quality care.

"Sometimes there is that perception that downtown care is better," said Maj. Mimi Byrd, 23d MDG group practice manager. "But when we have that [accrediting] agency come and validate that we are doing things right, it can give [patients] that confidence and comfort that they know they are getting good health care here." 

According to their website, The Joint Commission "accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to meeting certain performance standards."

While the accrediting agency changed, it did not change what was evaluated: the day-to-day operations, safety and way the 23d MDG operates.

"We run a top-notch health care facility here," Breed said. "In our daily practices, things like process improvement, patient safety and staff safety, are programs that are core to what we do."

The Joint Commission discovered only four minor findings, validating the programs the 23d MDG runs day-to-day.

Evaluating these line items are done differently than what most Air Force members are familiar with when inspections come their way. One of the unique ways The Joint Commission tests these standards is through a process called tracers.

"Tracers are quite simply tracing a patient through the spectrum of care," said John Lovette, 23d MDG quality and risk manager.

The surveyors simply asked patients if they would mind if they were accompanied throughout their visits at the medical group. The surveyors would then evaluate how well the care was provided.

While the tracers give the surveyors a good idea of how care is received at Moody, it also tests the skills of the medical personnel providing that care.

"Often for a medic, their [deployed] skillset is the same as their [home-station] skillset, so for these folks coming in validating that our medical [abilities] are at a very high level of proficiency, that absolutely goes hand in glove with deploying skilled Airmen," Breed said. "We are creating a team of medics that are ready to deploy at a moment's notice, when the boss needs it, and this validated that they are ready, proficient and skilled in their medical [duties] to go do that if needed."

It is this readiness, along with teamwork, that helped the medical group earn their accreditation for another three years.  Airmen and all those eligible to be seen at Moody can know the care they receive is above the standard.

"I am very, very, very proud of the Tiger Medic Team," Breed said.