52nd MDG receives outstanding HSI rating Published May 24, 2010 By Senior Airman Clay Murray 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The 52nd Medical Group recently received an overall outstanding rating for a Health Services Inspection. According to the Air Force fact sheet about the inspection agency, these inspections are completed in order to assess and improve medical war plans, readiness, management and healthcare quality at medical units. It also exists to inspect radioactive materiel permits held by the Air Force. Working to earn an overall outstanding rating for a group inspection is a process that takes a wealth of preparation and forethought, said Col. Lorrie Cappellino, 52nd MDG commander. "The medical group as a whole has been preparing for this inspection since the last one finished in 2007," she said. "Health Services Inspections are compliance-based inspections and they focus on 'sustained performance' since the last inspection. The 52nd MDG prepared more than 50 boxes of documents for the Air Force Inspection Agency team to review while on site during the three-day inspection. The Saber Medics have been working for the past six months on final preparations." Many different facets of preparation ultimately led to the success of the medical group. Colonel Cappellino attributed two major things to the outstanding rating: teamwork and focusing on what's important. "When preparing for an inspection, everyone needs to be at their best and looking out for each other. No one gets an outstanding alone," she said. "We received advice and lessons learned from other U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases that had been recently inspected. This broader teamwork was vital to ensuring we focused on the right things. Secondly, we stayed focused on the most important part of our mission: 'providing outstanding patient care.' When the patients' needs are first, everything else falls into place." Just as the 52nd MDG looked for advice and information from other inspected units, Colonel Cappellino recommends early preparation, encouragement and a sense of what's expected for other organizations soon to be under the scope for future inspections. "Prepare early and ensure you know the details of what will be inspected," she said. "It is difficult to do everything right all the time, but that's really what compliance inspections test. It's also important for every Airman to know what's expected, to be trained on how to comply with and exceed the standards, and then leadership must give them the resources and motivation to succeed. "Finally, encourage members within your unit to check each other's work," she added. "This unbiased view is often eye-opening and ensures everyone is at their best when it's time for an inspection." Preparation was one of the keys to success, Colonel Cappellino said, and the group has already adopted the mentality to prepare for the next inspection. "Even at our HSI celebration, many of us noted that the 2013 HSI begins tomorrow," she said. "So don't be the one to leave a gap in a program or service."