Health care is a powerful segment of Ohio s economy with tremendous potential for improvement in all areas of process and procedures. Standing still will not suffice in the current marketplace. Hospitals and health care organizations have become vulnerable to the perception of mismanagement and waste on the part of public made sensitive to costs and efficiency by the rise in managed care. At the same time, the rewards for improvement have never been greater. Hospitals that improve outcomes and customer service can boost their share in a rapidly changing marketplace, and position themselves more favorable to insurers and institutional payors.
Health care can only benefit by demonstrating leadership in the drive for quality.
Participation in the OAE is an important first step in making that leadership a reality. The Ohio Award for Excellence is based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award which is presented to U.S. companies in recognition of their achievements in quality and business performance. Typically, Baldrige Award winners show improvements in all aspects of their business, including customer satisfaction and retention, financial and marketplace performance, productivity, product and service quality and human resource performance and development. The Department of Commerce has conducted a study of Baldrige winning companies since 1988. A similar investment was made in whole company winners and parent companies of subsidiary winners.