Inspections net high ratings for 21st MDG Published Oct. 25, 2007 By Corey Dahl 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- The 21st Medical Group has received top ratings from military and civilian evaluators who visited the group's facilities this summer. The 21st MDG passed its tri-annual military health services inspection with flying colors, receiving an overall rating of "excellent," the second highest level possible, from a team of nine military health care professionals. Several areas - deployment processing, operational medicine, dentistry and the area dental laboratory - received individual "outstanding" ratings, the highest possible. The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare, Inc., a national civilian accreditation organization, also applauded the group's medical facilities, awarding the 21st MDG its highest accreditation rating. "We're all thrilled with the results," said Kathe Wilson, director of performance improvement for the 21st MDG. "We provide excellent healthcare here, and this was something we all worked really hard for." Inspectors spent a week in August visiting all of Peterson's medical facilities as well as the medical clinics at Schriever AFB and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, which are also run by the 21st MDG. The teams looked at medical records, talked to staff, observed procedures and read through customer comments to get a feel for how the 21st MDG has operated for the last several years. "They went to all of our facilities and looked at everything from soup to nuts," Ms. Wilson said. "You can't just polish things up and make everything look pretty for them. The focus is on the track record, what you've been doing long term." Ms. Wilson said the 21st MDG hopes the inspection and accreditation results will help win over customers who might be skeptical about the quality of healthcare the military provides. "Good healthcare is good healthcare, regardless of who's providing it," she said. "We are held to the exact same - if not higher - standards as our civilian counterparts, and this can help show people, when they're making healthcare choices, that we're a good option." But while the 21st MDG is happy with their results, they won't be basking in the glory long, Ms. Wilson said. The group's more than 400 employees are looking over recommendations from both inspection teams and making plans for improvements. "The goal is always to improve," Ms. Wilson said. "It's a continuous process for us."