Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas has lost its chance at a presidential honor as criticism mounts over its fumbling of the nation’s first Ebola case, memos obtained by The Dallas Morning News show.
Presbyterian began planning last week for a Tuesday visit from representatives of the Baldrige Performance Excellence program. Its annual Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is touted as the “highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.”
The commerce secretary announces the award, given to a handful of business, education, health care and charitable organizations judged the best at innovation and improvement.
In a Sept. 29 memo to physicians, Presbyterian’s chief medical officer bragged that the hospital was one of only six health care organizations chosen for a visit by Baldrige judges.
“I want to thank you,” Dr. Aurora Estevez wrote, “and congratulate you for the role you played in helping us achieve this milestone. We have much to celebrate.”
The next day, Presbyterian was scrambling to defend its handling of the Ebola virus case.
By Friday, the Baldrige visit was scrapped. The chief executive of Presbyterian’s owner, Texas Health Resources, sent a staff memo saying it had decided to “respectfully decline” the visit.
Barclay Berdan noted that the hospital was in an “unprecedented situation.” He said the hospital will reapply for the award in the spring.
“We have reinforced over and over that it’s not about winning the award, but about what we learn along the way,” he wrote.
Hospital spokesman Wendell Watson said late Saturday that Baldrige officials had expressed concern about its staff’s safety but considered replicating the visit with telephone interviews.
Watson did not elaborate on what led Presbyterian to lose its chance at the prize, which is presented by the president. A Baldrige spokesman declined to comment.
Staff writer Miles Moffeit contributed to this report.
