341 MDG flawless during AAAHC inspection

by Chris Willis
341st Missile Wing

3/27/2015 - MALSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- The 341st Medical Group opened its doors to a group of surveyors from the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care, March 24 to 27.

More than 3,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC. Accreditation highlights a facility's long-standing dedication to providing the best possible levels of care to the patients it serves.

The three-day inspection occurs every three years and covers virtually every aspect of the hospital system, from patient treatment to infectious disease control.  The survey also helps to identify areas within the hospital that could possibly improve and enhance the quality of health care they provide.

Senior Airman Linda Iammapollo, 341st Medical Group health service management technician, previously stationed in Alaska, has been working for the 341st MDG for more than a year and this was her first AAAHC inspection.

"I have been through inspections before but not to the level of innovations we are currently working on to provide our patients with a higher level of care," said Iammapollo.

The MDG enhanced medical services by; extending immunization hours to include lunch, implementing immediate care to babies born at medical facility outside of the base, and providing monthly educational programs to new parents or to those wanting to receive the training.

"One of the goals for the medical group is to support our patients with a safe and centralized quality health care, and that is what we strive for," said Iammapollo.  "I believe the inspectors saw that."

Col. Christopher Phillips, 341st Medical Group commander, and his staff of 2,030, support more than 10,000 enrollees comprised of active duty, dependants, and retirees.  The group aids the wing's mission of providing a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrence across 13,800 square miles of Montana.

"The medical group's job is to take care of the Airmen and their families so they can complete the mission," Phillips said.

In 2006, the 341st MDG achieved the AAAHC accreditation making it the first Air Force Medical Treatment Facility to attain that status.  There have been two more inspections since then, each time improving the quality of care administered by the clinic.

"That's another thing the AAAHC looks for-are you an organization dedicated to continued improvement?," Phillips said.  "Are you constantly looking for ways to be more effective and more efficient to deliver better care?"