DGMC awaits Joint Commission / Health Services Inspections

  • Published
  • By Rees Donneson
  • 60th Medical Group
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Approximately every 36 months, Air Force hospitals are required to submit to an accreditation survey conducted by the pre-eminent national accrediting organization, the Joint Commission. This is in fulfillment of both Department of Defense and Air Force requirements for inpatient facilities across the Military Health Service.

Most public and private hospitals in the U.S. are Joint Commission accredited, since this is acknowledged as the gold standard for external validation that patient care services are effectively managed and professionally administered. At David Grant USAF Medical Center, this is also important for our graduate medical education, officer and enlisted specialty training programs, since such training is most often conducted in accredited healthcare organizations.

JC accreditation carries the recognition that DGMC adheres to the same standards in providing safe patient care that other accredited institutions across the U.S. adhere to. It also communicates that DGMC physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and technical and support staffs meet or exceed standards associated with their roles in patient care.

Health Services Inspections are timed to coincide with JC accreditation surveys. Although the JC survey and HSI are separate entities, the combined JC and HSI visit improves efficiency by eliminating the need for separate visits by each team.

HSIs are performed by experienced medical teams assigned to the Air Force Inspection Agency. These inspections are conducted under the auspices of the Inspector General, and are similar to the Unit Compliance Inspections that the wing periodically undergoes.

DGMC is currently in a window for its next inspection and survey. This is expected between now and the end of 2008 -- and will occur with virtually no advance notice.

Beneficiaries should be aware that DGMC has established a Patient Relations office to address concerns about access, patient care or other subjects that may be important. The phone number for the Patient Relations coordinator is 423-2388.

However, any patient, family or DGMC staff member who continues to have concern about the safety or quality of care provided here can contact the Joint Commission weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Central Time) toll free at (800) 994-6610.