Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) was recently one of 15 organizations in the U.S. to receive a site visit for consideration for the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest Presidential honor for performance excellence through innovation, improvement and visionary leadership.

Only four of the 15 organizations were selected to receive the Baldrige award, announced November 17. They are Don Chambers Ford in New Mexico, Momentum Group in California, Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation Center-Mountain Valley in Idaho and Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital in Texas.

Baldrige also recognized best practices in one or more of the Baldrige criteria categories among organizations that were candidates for the award. MRMC was one of only four organizations to be recognized for best practice in the Leadership Category. This category examines how senior executives guide and sustain the organization and how the organization addresses governance, ethical, legal and community responsibilities.

"I would like to thank the board of trustees, senior executives and management team for the leadership that they provide to our organization. They are to be commended for their contributions and their commitment to provide excellent care for every patient, every day," said CEO Alan Watson.

The Baldrige Award was established by the U.S. Congress in 1987 and is designed to raise awareness of quality management and to recognize organizations that have implemented successful quality management systems. Those applying for the Baldrige Award are judged by an independent board of examiners. Recipients are selected based on their performance in seven areas known as the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, measurement, analysis and knowledge management, human resource focus and process management.

"Words cannot express the pride that I feel in this organization and the employees, physicians, board members and volunteers who have contributed to Maury Regional being a national role model for health care," said Watson.