VHHA Honored with Prestigious Performance Excellence Award from SPQA

National Award Recognizes Sustained Organizational Improvement Efforts Pursued by VHHA

September 30, 2024

Senate Productivity and Quality Award Recognizes the VHHA Commitment to Continuous Progress Toward Excellence in Support of its Mission of Advocating for Virginia Hospitals and Health Systems and Advancing Community Health and Well-Being in the Commonwealth

RICHMOND, VA - The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) recently received the 2024 Achievement in Performance Excellence Award from the U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award (SPQA) Program. The Performance Excellence Award signifies VHHA's continuing work and achievement in optimizing professional, organizational, and ethical practices in pursuit of its mission to support Virginia's hospitals and health systems in advancing the health and well-being of Virginians. VHHA's receipt of this award, which was formally presented during a September 20 ceremony, follows the Association earning the SPQA Progress in Performance Excellence Award in 2020 as part of its multi-year process improvement efforts.

"Virginia's hospitals and health systems consistently invest in clinical research, medical technology, and staff training to deliver exceptional care and the latest in cutting-edge advances in treatment to produce positive outcomes for patients," said VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. "To effectively support hospitals, health systems, and their teams in pursuing those goals, it is imperative for the Association to seek continuous improvement in our work. The two SPQA awards VHHA has received in the past four years illustrate our ongoing commitment to organizational and process improvement. We are immensely proud of these accomplishments and our work to support Virginia's hospitals and health systems."

The SPQA Achievement in Performance Excellence Award is an honor that recognizes organizations that take meaningful, active steps to build a culture that elevates performance and quality improvement, promotes innovation, and demonstrates measurable results. Receiving consideration for the award requires a significant organizational commitment to growth and process improvement as well as a rigorous, multi-step evaluation process by SPQA examiners who assess and analyze performance and offer observational feedback.

According to SPQA, the recent award highlights the role of VHHA "as a leader in healthcare advocacy, policy development, and collaboration" through its work to help lead "initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare quality, promoting patient safety, and ensuring that Virginia's hospitals and health systems are equipped to meet the evolving needs of the communities they serve."

The SPQA program is modeled on the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award. Under the leadership of its Board of Directors, VHHA began this process by deploying the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework in 2017. The Association has continued those efforts by completing the SPQA Self-Assessment process in 2018, leading to the Progress in Performance Excellence Award in 2020, as well as the more recent Achievement in Performance Excellence Award (view award materials here.)

About VHHA: The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association is an alliance of 111 hospitals and 26 health delivery systems that develops and advocates for sound health care policy in the Commonwealth. Its mission is to achieve excellence in both health care and health. Its vision is through the power of collaboration to be recognized as a driving force behind making Virginia the healthiest state in the nation. Connect with VHHA through Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.

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