JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Naval Health Clinic Charleston successfully underwent inspections by the Navy Medical Inspector General and the Joint Commission from Aug. 7 through 9, to ensure the clinic is providing quality health care to all beneficiaries.
The Joint Commission surveys health care facilities throughout the nation to ensure that safety and quality of care standards are being met, while supporting performance improvement with targeted recommendations. NHCC is assessed every three years and this on-site survey is an important part of the reaccreditation process.
"The survey team told us repeatedly how impressed they were with the competence and professionalism of our staff," said Capt. Mary Kim Kenney-Gutshall, NHCC commanding officer. "The Joint Commission survey is an external evaluation of the quality and safety of care we provide. A positive evaluation is an independent indication of the great work we do every day. We not only met the standards of their inspection, we set benchmarks for the rest of the health care community to follow. We had no major findings which is remarkable. This was an overwhelming success."
As part of their survey, the Joint Commission spoke with various staff members, including administrators and medical providers, and evaluated processes ranging from patient safety goals to complex sterilization procedures.
The staff of NHCC also successfully passed their IG inspection. The role of the IG is to review all aspects of the command, including the delivery of health care from the beneficiary's perspective, paying close attention to access to care, patient satisfaction and TRICARE issues. While at the clinic, more than 70 different programs were inspected, including education and training, safety metrics, health information management, patient privacy and contracting.
According to Capt. Celia Horton, the Navy's Medical Inspector General, "NHCC is the jewel of Navy medicine. This is why people want to work here."
Completing these inspections was a team effort, according to Capt. Richard Joralmon, NHCC executive officer. "I am proud of our staff for all the hard work and dedication that they show every day, not just during inspections," said Joralmon. "The hard work, dedication and delivery of high quality health care that the Joint Commission and IG teams saw were a snapshot of what we do here at NHCC day in and day out. This solidifies what we already knew - NHCC provides the very best in patient and family centered care."