MDG gets ‘excellent’ in health services inspection

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Bryan Bouchard
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Anyone who uses the 56th Medical Group for their healthcare needs can now do so knowing that their medical care is "excellent" according to inspectors from the health services inspection team. 

"The 56th MDG scored a 92 which is an 'excellent,'" said Col. (Dr.) Joseph Chozinski, 56th MDG commander. "It is tied for the highest score any hospital or clinic has achieved in the last year." 

The health services inspection, or HSI, is designed to provide Air Force leadership with an accurate assessment of a medical unit's ability to provide quality healthcare during peacetime and wartime. This inspection serves as the medical group's report card. The Airmen and civilian employees at the 56th MDG found out Dec. 5 that they are not only doing their jobs well, but doing them better than anyone. 

"The entire MDG began preparation nearly two years ago, led by some of our executive staff who have been inspectors, and fueled by the outstanding efforts of every single Airman and civilian working here," Colonel Chozinski said. "A great deal of effort goes into giving high quality care every day, and as a group we were determined to earn a grade reflective of the outstanding care we deliver." 

So what does this mean for the servicemembers, retirees and family members who rely on the 56th MDG for their healthcare? The base's head "Doc" said the inspection represents the culmination of all of the hard work and steadfast dedication by the men and women at the clinic. 

"The HSI is a compliance inspection looking over the last three years work," the colonel said. "An excellent score means we have complied with nearly all the requirements for military health care. During this same inspection we were also inspected by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care which is a civilian group that looks at the quality of care compared to our civilian peers. They look at our future, as opposed to compliance like HSI. We will get a full report from them in 45 days, however their exit interview agreed completely with the HSI and they were highly complimentary of our care."