Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Ceremony
April 23, 2008

Prepared remarks by
Michael W. Murphy
President and CEO
Sharp HealthCare

Thank you Secretary Gutierrez, Dr. Hertz, and everyone involved with NIST and the Baldrige Process. I would especially like to recognize those individuals who volunteer their time as examiners, your efforts in support of organizations like ours, on a quest for excellence, is truly exemplary.

I stand before you today honored to represent the 14,000 team members, 2,600 affiliated physicians, 2,000 volunteers and 150 board members that are Sharp HealthCare – and humbled to be recognized along with this year’s award recipients and the legacy of the 67 companies that have been awarded over the past twenty years.

Six years ago we recommitted to the purpose and worth of our work, and set forth on a journey to transform the health care experience for our staff, our physicians and our patients and their families – we call this journey The Sharp Experience. I am often asked to share the secret of our success – and my answer never wavers. I proudly state that it is the very special people of Sharp that make the difference. Their passion and commitment to make every aspect of the health care experience the best that it can be is what drives our success and ongoing quest for excellence.

These wonderful people – with their open hearts, minds and attitudes – have skillfully incorporated key tools, behaviors and learning from across virtually all industries and the many mentors we’ve encountered along the way. Clearly the criteria, discipline and focus that underlies the Baldrige process has been a key contributor to our daily improvements. The feedback we received from our state and national site visits has been instrumental in providing a clear road map for the journey. But in the end it is the people of Sharp – and their commitment to make health care better – that makes the difference.

I couldn’t be more proud to be here representing each one of them today. I thank and congratulate the people of Sharp who have earned this magnificent recognition!

We are obviously very proud to be a 2007 National Malcolm Baldrige quality award recipient, but let me assure you that we also recognize that our journey continues. We still have much to learn and much to accomplish as we aim to make health care better everywhere.

Thank you again for this great honor.

News release on the ceremony for the 2007 Baldrige winners

Posted: 04/23/08
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