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Fort Sanders Parkwest and Fort Sanders Regional Medical Centers have earned an advanced level three 1999 Tennessee Quality Achievement Award.

The level three award honors the two hospitals for demonstrating their commitment to practicing quality principles, gaining significant progress in building sound and notable processes, and having many "best practices" from which other organizations can learn.

Organizations in the Tennessee Quality Award (TQA) program are recognized at one of four levels – Quality Interest, Quality Commitment, Quality Achievement or Quality Excellence. Fort Sanders Parkwest and Fort Sanders Regional advanced from last year’s level two Quality Commitment Award to a level three Quality Achievement Award.

"This award is a tremendous achievement. Four our two organizations to advance a full level in one year exemplifies our commitment to providing quality care to our patients and a supportive environment for our employees," said Jim Burkhart, president of the two facilities and a TQA examiner.

Fort Sanders Parkwest and Fort Sanders Regional are among 10 other organizations in the state that will be presented with their level three award during a TQA banquet in Nashville on February 16. Twelve companies will be recognized for level one achievement, forty will be honored with second level awards and two will receive the Excellence Award. More than 1,000 representatives of participating Tennessee companies, organizations and support groups are expected to attend.

"The search for success in business has become a search for excellence. I applaud the 1999 Tennessee Quality Award winners. They represent the best of Tennessee," said Marie B. Williams, president of the Tennessee Quality program. "Fort Sanders Parkwest and Fort Sanders Regional Medical Centers and many other companies have done a great service to Tennessee by setting high standards for others to follow."

Under the TQA program a board of examiners, made up of more than 200 experts on quality representing business and industry, trade and professional organizations, assess applicants on seven criteria. The criteria are leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resources focus, process management and business results. The examiners also conduct site visits.

The Tennessee Quality Award program is open to all business and industry as well as governmental agencies and public and private educational institutions.