Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 10, 2003 - Baptist Memorial Hospital-Lauderdale recently received the Tennessee Quality Interest Award, which will be officially given to the hospital at the 10th annual awards banquet on Feb. 24, 2003, at the Nashville Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.

Established in 1993, Tennessee Quality Award program promotes and accelerates the economic well-being in the state of Tennessee and surrounding counties by educating, sharing winning strategies and recognizing significant achievements.

The annual award program seeks to recognize organizations that have demonstrated the highest standards of excellence through their practice. Under the Tennessee Quality Award program, a board of examiners – made up of more than 150 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 resource focus, process management and business results.

“Our employees and physicians are proud our hospital was chosen for this award,” said Paul Betz, CEO and administrator of Baptist Lauderdale. “This award is testimony to the high standard of care and service we adhere to every day.”

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Lauderdale, located in Ripley, Tenn., is a subsidiary of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp. of Memphis. The 70-bed acute care facility includes a surgery department, medical/surgical wing, outpatient services, outpatient rehabilitation, 10-bed senior care unit for geriatric mental health services, intensive outpatient program for senior adults and outpatient behavioral health care. The hospital also provides a 24-hour physician-staffed emergency department. In 2002, Baptist Lauderdale added mobile magnetic resonance imaging services and was the recipient of the Lauderdale County Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year Award.

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