51st MDG earns "Excellent" rating during HSI inspection Published April 28, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The 51st Medical Group recently earned an "excellent" rating during the Air Force Inspection Agency's Hospital Service Inspection, held April 14 to 18. The HSI assesses Air Force Medical Service programs and processes to provide senior leadership with accurate data upon which to base policy decisions. It also evaluates the ability of medical units to fulfill their peacetime and wartime missions, to include evaluation of medical care and the support of the host wing's mission. In conjunction with the HIS, the 51st MDG was also inspected by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and renewed the hospital's accreditation for an additional three years. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission is the U.S. predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Joint Commission standards address the organization's level of performance in key functional areas, such as patient rights, patient treatment and infection control. "The difference between the two inspections is that HSIs focus on compliance with medically-related Air Force instructions, other DoD policies and provides a retrospective look at hospitals," said Lt. Col. Steve Mounts, 51st Medical Support Squadron commander. "The Joint Commission focuses on quality outcomes of the processes in a healthcare organization, with a special interest in how the organization meets the intent of the national patient safety goals and how well it establishes a safe environment of care." The following individuals were recognized as outstanding performers: -- Capt. Regis Carr, 51st Medical Operations Squadron -- Master Sgt. Roberto Gutierrez, 51st MDOS -- Tech. Sgt. Lavonne Fox, 51st Aerospace Medicine Squadron -- Staff Sgt. Lisette Spencer, 51st Medical Group staff Rick Dahlmann, 51st MDG, and Dr. (Capt.) Catherine Callendar 51st MDOS were also recognized for their part in hosting the team. In addition, the following programs earned an outstanding rating: -- Bioenvironmental engineering -- TRICARE and patient administration programs -- War reserve materiel management -- Dental services "[Earning an "excellent"] is very rewarding for our people because it is a tribute to how much dedication and effort they put into their work every day," said Col. Vincent Michaud, 51st MDG commander.