Deb Wriedt, St. Mary’s administrative director of quality, performance management and patient safety, has been appointed to the 2011 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. 

The Baldrige award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. The appointment was made by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, director of the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.

As an examiner, Wriedt is responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted for the award. The board is composed of approximately 500 leading experts selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and health care organizations, and nonprofits (including government).

Those selected must meet the highest standards of qualification and peer recognition.  All members of the board must take part in a preparation course based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and the scoring and evaluation processes for the Baldrige Award.

The Baldrige Award may be given annually in each of six categories: manufacturing, service, small business, education, health care and nonprofit. Awards have been presented to 80 organizations. SSM Health Care was the first health care recipient of the award in 2002.

For more information about the Baldrige National Quality Program, go to www.nist.gov/baldrige.