Continuing its journey toward the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Adventist HealthCare’s leadership system has earned a Malcolm Baldrige Category Best Practice Recognition, one of the nation’s highest honors for performance excellence. Adventist HealthCare is the first multi-hospital health system in the Washington, D.C., region to earn this honor for outstanding leadership practices that create organizational success. The recognition establishes Adventist HealthCare as a world-class organization that can serve as a model for other businesses on how to consistently improve safety, ensure a positive patient experience, and optimize health outcomes — all while reducing costs, leaders said. 

“The past two years have been extremely difficult for health care systems,” Terry Forde, president and Chief Executive Officer of Adventist HealthCare, said. “This honor is a concrete recognition that every team member across our system is united in our mission to extend physical, mental, and spiritual healing through compassionate, high-quality care — even when facing the many challenges of COVID-19.” 

Adventist HealthCare earned the recognition based on its application and a site visit in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program. The program, created by an act of Congress, is managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and provides a rigorous evaluation of quality practices and performance. Examiners spend a minimum of 300 hours reviewing each application. Strong applicants are awarded a site visit with more than 700 hours of interviews and analyses. Adventist HealthCare was the only health care system to receive a site visit in 2021. 

“Health care is a team sport,” John Sackett, Chief Operating Officer for Adventist HealthCare, said. “To achieve this recognition, every team member needed do their part to deploy our leadership system. When each employee puts their shoulder to the wheel, we can fully realize our vision of providing a world-class patient experience to every patient, every time.” 

As community members seek care in a competitive market, the recognition acts as an independent assessment of Adventist HealthCare’s comprehensive health and well-being services. Emily Miller, Adventist HealthCare’s director of Performance and Operational Excellence, emphasized, “Following our processes not only guided us through overcoming the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 but also empowered us to continue moving forward even stronger.” 

“We are so pleased to be recognized with this Baldrige best practice award,” Forde said. “And, as we share our story, we are honored to serve as an example to other organizations in bringing hope and healing to the community.”

About Adventist HealthCare

Adventist HealthCare, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States, is one of the longest-serving health systems in the Washington, D.C., region, and one of the largest employers in Maryland. It includes Shady Grove Medical Center, White Oak Medical Center, Fort Washington Medical Center, Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation, Home Care Services, Adventist Medical Group, Imaging and Urgent Care. Adventist HealthCare’s mission is to extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental, and spiritual healing.

The original version of this story was posted by Adventist HealthCare.