Corporate News and Events

Trinity Health Receives NCQHC’s National Quality Health Care Award

NOVI, MI (March 9, 2004) – The National Committee for Quality Health Care (NCQHC) has awarded the prestigious 2004 National Quality Health Care Award to Trinity Health, Novi, Mich. This is the 11th anniversary of the annual award, which is co-sponsored by Modern Healthcare magazine.

This award is presented to a health care provider that “embodies a vision for quality that embraces innovation and forward thinking, and establishes ways to measure and evaluate those processes to benefit the community,” according to the National Committee for Quality Health Care guidelines.

"The jury was impressed with Trinity Health’s strong commitment to guaranteeing that quality is central to health care delivery,” said Catherine E. McDermott, NCQHC's president and CEO.

The award recognizes Trinity Health for demonstrating excellence in quality health care delivery through innovative leadership, dedication to using new and emerging technologies to help ensure patient safety, working to establish a healthy and committed workforce, and sound financial practices. The award recognizes and honors all Trinity Health employees and their efforts to ensure leadership in guaranteeing that quality is central to health care delivery.

“Trinity Health earned this honor because of the magnificent commitment of our employees, medical staffs and boards to continuous improvements in quality and safety,” said Judy Pelham, President and CEO of Trinity Health. “We are grateful that the NCQHC has recognized Trinity Health’s leadership position with this distinguished award.”

Pelham will accept the award on March 24, at a dinner and reception at NCQHC’s annual conference entitled Closing the Gaps: Making a Better Business Case for Quality, in Washington, D.C.

The award selection is juried by a distinguished panel of judges. This year’s panel included: Daniel P. Bourque, Group Senior Vice President of VHA, Inc., Chair of the Jurors’ Committee and former Chair of NCQHC; Diane P. Appleyard, President of HRDI, Ralph Cerny, President & CEO of Munson Medical Center, Steve Epstein, Senior Partner of Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., Peter D. Lanser, Director of Press, Ganey Associates, Inc., David L. Loveland, Sr. Vice President of Corporate Relations, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Edward G. Murphy, MD, President & CEO of Carilion Health System, Don Nielsen, MD, Senior Vice President for Quality Leadership at the American Hospital Association, Daniel B. Stryer, MD, Director, Center for Quality Improvement & Patient Safety at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Sue M. Widner, President, Abbott HealthSystems Division, at Abbott Laboratories; and Donald Yesukaitis, KPMG.

Previous award winners are: Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, Allentown, Pa. (2003), Carilion Health System, Roanoke, Va. (2002), Catholic Health Initiatives, Denver, Colo. (2001), Munson Medical Center, Traverse City, Mich. (2000), BJC Health System, St. Louis, Mo. (1999), University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pa. (1998), St. Luke’s Health System, Kansas City, Mo. (1997), Intermountain Health Care, Salt Lake City, Utah (1996), Evanston Hospital Corporation, Evanston, Ill. (1995), and the Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich. (1994).

The National Committee for Quality Health Care is an independent, national, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to ensuring that quality is the cornerstone of health care delivery for all. With a unique membership comprised of the top thought-leaders from all sectors of the quality healthcare industry, NCQHC provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and expertise, and works to build constructive cross-industry solutions to the complex challenges of quality health care delivery. Additional information on NCQHC, its activities and membership, can be found at www.ncqhc.org.