MACDILL AIR FOCE BASE, Fla. -- The 6th Medical Group assigned to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its nationally recognized standards.
The 6th MDG underwent a rigorous, on-site survey from March 28 to 30, 2018. During the review, a Joint Commission survey team of ambulatory health care experts evaluated compliance with patient care standards.
“The surveyors evaluated our medical equipment, the care given to our patients, medical procedures, the training we give to our Airmen, competency folders, how we label medical supplies, how we store chemicals, our alarm system, and much more,” said Robyne Rentz, the director of quality and risk management assigned to the 6th Medical Group. “The evaluation encompassed every aspect of patient care given at the clinic.”
Established in 1975, The Joint Commission’s Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation Program encourages high-quality patient care in every facility. Today, the Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation Program serves 2,100 ambulatory care providers with more than 9,000 sites of care, which in turn, serve more than 90 million patient visits annually.
“Receiving accreditation is validation of the excellent patient care that is given to our patients,” said Col. Kevin Wright, the commander of the 6th Medical Group. “It took a tremendous effort and truly displayed our understanding of the culture of safety and quality patient care as everyone from myself to our newest Airmen were evaluated and the most consistent compliment we received throughout the process was the quality of care given to our patients.”
MacDill’s 6th MDG received high marks when the evaluation concluded, receiving a score in the top 90 percent of all patient care sites surveyed.
“The biggest compliment I received is a surveyor told me that she would bring her family here,” said Rentz.
After receiving accreditation, it stays valid for an additional three years. However, that doesn’t mean the expectations and evaluations stop.
“This is why we train because it is a continuous process and we must always be able to meet and exceed the standards given to us,” said Wright. “The Joint Commission sets those standards across the country and we want our patients to know that they are receiving the best care and treatment possible.”
The Joint Commission’s ambulatory health care standards are developed in consultations with healthcare experts and providers, measurements experts and patients. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.
“The professionalism and enthusiasm at our clinic is truly remarkable,” said Rentz. “I couldn’t have been prouder of how our Airmen and faculty staff performed during the evaluation.”