The 24th Annual Governor’s Quality Award Celebration was held on Thursday evening, September 13th at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Little Rock. Twenty-five organizations from throughout the state received recognition for their commitment to quality.
North Arkansas Regional Medical Center of Harrison was presented the Achievement Level Award by Governor Asa Hutchison. This is the third consecutive year that the hospital has received this honor. Vince Leist, president and CEO of North Arkansas Regional Medical Center accepted the award on behalf of the hospital.
The prestigious Malcomb Baldridge award criteria were used as the cornerstone for the creation of the Arkansas Governor’s Quality Award. According to the Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence, the Baldrige Excellence Framework criteria is a set of principles that guide how to run any organization, no matter its sector or size. It covers all aspects of management, including strategic planning, knowledge management and continuous quality improvement.
For a healthcare organization, receiving this award demonstrates improved processes and performance centered on patient satisfaction and experience. In addition, the application process cultivates a culture of quality while improving the overall organization and putting an emphasis on continued learning and education.
“The NARMC team has worked diligently to achieve this award. This honor is a symbol of our commitment to quality, because quality in healthcare means providing the best care possible for our patients,” said Leist. “Our dedication to continuous quality improvement demonstrates our unwavering dedication to the community we serve. Thank you to the NARMC team members who all played a part in earning our third Achievement Award.”
The awards program includes four levels of Performance Excellence (in descending order of qualifications): the Governor’s Award, the Achievement Award, the Commitment Award and the Challenge Award. In addition to the recognition, recipients receive an in-depth evaluation of their management systems and a written feedback report citing strengths and areas for improvement.
The goal of the Governor’s Quality Award Program is to encourage Arkansas organizations to engage in continuous quality improvement, which leads to performance excellence, and to provide significant recognition to those organizations. Created as a not-for-profit organization, the program is dedicated to assist in building a strong infrastructure for Arkansas businesses. The Governor’s Quality Award program partners with the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.