JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
The 633rd Medical Group (633 MDG) at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, received a triennial (3-yr) renewal of its Hospital Accreditation from The Joint Commission (TJC), effective Nov. 13, 2020.
Along with this accreditation, the 633rd MDG received its Primary Care Medical Home re-certification.
In order to receive this accreditation, Langley Hospital underwent a thorough evaluation of its facilities and procedures Nov. 10-12, 2020, conducted by a survey team from The Joint Commission. While surveying the hospital, the team evaluated compliance with Hospital Accreditation Program standards spanning multiple areas including emergency management, environment of care, life safety, infection prevention and control, leadership, medication management, and rights and responsibilities of patients and staff.
TJC standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, measurement experts and patients. Informed by scientific literature and expert consensus, TJC helps health care organizations across the nation measure, assess and improve performance. During their visit, the surveyors observed how the 633 MDG prepares and delivers care, and conducted interviews to validate findings.
According to Joann Frye, 633 MDG Clinical Quality Management director, the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals contains over 250 standards and elements of performance across 18 major chapters.
“As a private accreditor, The Joint Commission surveys health care organizations to protect the public by identifying deficiencies in care and working with those organizations to correct them as quickly and sustainably as possible,” says Mark Pelletier, the Joint Commission Accreditation and Certification Operations chief operating officer. “We commend the 633 MDG for its continuous quality improvement efforts in patient safety and quality of care.”
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 633 MDG received high marks for rapidly implementing flexible virtual health care, adhering to Center for Disease Control guidelines, and executing innovative Department of Defense initiatives.
“The Joint Commission surveyors were particularly impressed with Langley’s pandemic response operations including the 633 MDG’s participation in a DOD pilot initiative assessing a large scale rapid COVID-19 testing capability,” Frye said. “Through these efforts, the 633 MDG created a playbook of operations guidance and lessons learned which was rolled out to 126 other military treatment facilities… [Contributing] to a DOD decision to execute a $24 million contract for future COVID testing operations.”
This accreditation solidifies the professionalism and dedication of the healthcare workers at Langley by reasserting the high standard the hospital operates within.
“Receiving this Gold Seal of Approval is something healthcare facilities around the globe strive to achieve,” stated Col. Craig Keyes, 633rd MDG commander. “TJC accreditation serves as a testament to the quality of healthcare provided at the 633 MDG and to our staff’s dedication to our mission and our patients.”