Strike Eagle medics capture 'Outstanding' HSI rating Published Aug. 9, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Heather Stanton 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The 4th Medical Group received an "Outstanding" rating at the conclusion of the week-long Health Services Inspection August 1-5. HSIs are directed by the Air Force Inspector General every three years to assess the ability of Air Force medical units to fulfill their mission. "(The medical group performed) like business as usual," said Col. Leslie Claravall, 4th MDG commander. "They aim to do an outstanding job every single day. One can't ace an inspection with the results the Strike Eagle medics received if they weren't already striving to meet, and exceed, standards over the long haul. It's a journey in the pursuit of sustained excellence, not a destination." The inspectors, who specialize in administration, dental, nursing, mental health, bioenvironmental engineering, public health, clinical and flight medicine, and senior enlisted, conduct documentation reviews, interviews and physical inspections before rating each section, according to 1st Lt. Gillian Taylor-Dorsett, 4th Medical Support Squadron medical readiness flight commander and HSI project officer. "These inspections are necessary in the same manner Unit Compliance Inspections are necessary," Taylor-Dorsett said. "It is important to know that your organization meets, or in our case, exceeds compliance standards for the U.S. Air Force and health care in both wartime and peacetime to complete the mission." The three main categories the team inspected - expeditionary medical operations, in-garrison medical operations and leadership - were rated "Outstanding." Overall, the 4th MDG scored 94 percent on the more than 98 inspection elements. "Incredibly, all of our sections had best practices and were identified as 'Outstanding' in their respective areas," Taylor-Dorsett said. "Our education and training programs were identified as best in the Air Force and our flight medicine had best practices, processes and templates that will be utilized Air Force wide." Also, in conjunction with the HSI, the 4th MDG had its Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare inspection, which is the civilian inspection of a medical treatment facility. "Accreditation from AAAHC ensures that the 4th MDG adopts best practices in health care and complies with nationally-recognized standards," Taylor-Dorsett said. "Most importantly, it is reassuring for our patients and staff to know that our organization meets nationally-recognized standards of health care." "The 4th MDG is an elite group where it is just one of only three or four groups (from the 24 groups inspected this year) to earn 'Outstanding' with 94 being the second highest score to date," said Col. Catherine Mattie, HSI team chief. Claravall believes it took effort from every member of the 4th MDG to earn such a high inspection rating. "I appreciate every single active duty member, civilian, contractor and volunteer in our medical group and what they do to take care of the most important weapon system in the military, and that is the Airmen and their families," she said. "The recent inspection validated the outstanding service the Strike Eagle medics provide to every single person on this base, from occupational health shop visits throughout the installation, to public health rounds to all facilities, including the wing's food establishments, commissary, base exchange, childcare center, swimming pools and gyms. From our outreach services via the Health and Wellness Center, mental health and family advocacy team to our TRICARE operations and patient administration teams providing advice to all beneficiaries. From in-house care for routine and acute appointments and ancillary services, to deployed combat settings inside and outside the wire, saving lives. I am so very proud, lucky and humbled to be their group commander. They are the ultimate dream team."