Tuesday, November 25, 2008

GOV. RITTER PRAISES POUDRE VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM FOR RECEIVING 2008 BALDRIGE NATIONAL QUALITY AWARD


Gov. Ritter today congratulated the Poudre Valley Health System in Fort Collins, Colo., for being selected as one of the three 2008 recipients of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which is the nation's highest Presidential honor for organizational innovation and performance excellence.

"For years, Colorado's Poudre Valley Health System has worked tirelessly to deliver the highest quality of patient care as cost effectively as possible.  They are most deserving of this highly prestigious award, and stand as a model for the commitment to quality and innovation that should be a centerpiece of our nation's health care reform efforts," said Gov. Ritter.

The Baldrige program is managed by the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in conjunction with the private sector.  The 2008 Baldrige Award's two other recipients include Cargill Corn Milling North America, Wayzata, Minn., for manufacturing, and Iredell-Statesville Schools, Statesville, N.C., for education.

The 2008 Baldrige Award recipients were selected from a field of 85 applicants. All of the applicants were evaluated rigorously by an independent board of examiners in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management; and results. The evaluation process for each of the recipients included about 1,000 hours of review and an on-site visit by a team of examiners to clarify questions and verify information in the applications.

For more information on Poudre Valley Health System, visit http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/poudre_profile.html and for the Baldrige Award, visit  http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/factsheet/mbnqa.htm