Poudre
Valley Health System (PVHS) Receives 2008 Baldrige Award
(12/2/2008)
We
are proud to report that one of our best and longest-term
customers, Poudre Valley Health System (Fort Collins, CO) has
been honored with the 2008 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality
Award. Named after the 26th Secretary of Commerce, the Baldrige Award was established by Congress in 1987
to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses. The award
promotes excellence in organizational performance, recognizes
the quality and performance achievements of U.S.
organizations, and publicizes successful performance
strategies.
PVHS was one of only three organizations across the country,
and the only health care organization, to receive this
prestigious award in 2008. “We are proud to be named to
such an elite group,” says Rulon Stacey, PVHS president
and CEO. “The award is confirmation for our patients,
physicians, staff, volunteers, and community that we are
truly dedicated to providing world-class health care.”
A
Culmination of Goals
The award caps off a remarkable 10-year journey during which
PVHS has dedicated itself to improving every aspect of its
health care business, including clinical quality, customer
service, and staff, physician and volunteer satisfaction.
"The Baldrige Award didn't arrive overnight,"
explains Russ Branzell, PVHS vice president and CIO. "We've
always been a very goal-oriented institution, and we've taken
a cohesive, proactive approach to making PVHS among the best
health care delivery systems in the country."
Tangible evidence of this pursuit of excellence includes PVHS's
ranking in the top one percent of U.S. hospitals in patient
satisfaction (according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services), and being the nation's top hospital for
nursing quality (according to the American Nurses Association).
Additionally, PVHS ranks among the top three percent of U.S.
hospitals for employee satisfaction and engagement, according
to a database of more than 1,000 hospital organizations.
"The initiatives we've taken on a number of
fronts—including quality and patient safety, strategic
planning, process management, and work force
engagement—were undertaken to serve a common goal of
providing high-quality, low-cost health care to our community,"
says Branzell. "Over time, these endeavors come together
and coalesce, and begin to feed each other. I believe the
Baldrige Award is the ultimate symbol of our efforts coming
together."
"We are so happy to congratulate our friends at PVHS on
this extraordinary accomplishment," says Howard Messing,
MEDITECH president and COO. "Over the past 20-plus years
of our partnership, we have seen their dedication firsthand.
They have created a model for health care providers across
the country to follow, and they are an inspiration to the
entire MEDITECH community."
A
Year in the Spotlight
The leadership team at PVHS can expect the coming year to be
an exciting one, starting with President Barack Obama
presenting the award to PVHS leaders and staff during a
ceremony in Washington, D.C. in early 2009. "As part of
winning the Baldrige, the 'spotlight' will be on us,"
explains Branzell. "Leaders from across the country will
travel here to learn about our organization’s successful
performance excellence program, and we'll be invited to lead
and participate in national quality conferences highlighting
the organization’s role model practices."
MEDITECH
Medical
Information Technology, Inc.
MEDITECH Circle
Westwood, MA 02090
781-821-3000
www.meditech.com