The Clinical Excellence category, in which Integris won a Leadership Award, recognizes organizations that have differentiated themselves from other health care organizations by achieving exceptionally high levels of performance.

Integris Blackwell Regional Hospital held a composite score in the top decile for pneumonia beginning in quarter three of 2006 through quarter two of 2007.

Integris Health was one of only four hospital organizations nationwide to be recognized by the VHA for its efforts to serve community health needs. The health care system also won a 2008 Leadership Award for Community Benefit Excellence.

"Hospitals across the nation do an excellent job of providing high-quality care for their patients, but there are still community needs that often go unmet through the regular course of care," says Stanley Hupfeld, president and CEO of Integris Health. "This is where community-owned, not-for-profit hospitals like ours can make a difference, and we have. Our mission is to improve the health of the people and communities we serve, and that includes many of the most vulnerable in our community."

"Providing for the unique health needs of their communities is the hallmark of not-for-profit hospitals. The VHA Leadership Award for Community Benefit recognizes organizations for their focus and commitment to community benefit and the effective strategies they use to tell their community benefit story," says Linda DeWolf, vice president of VHA and president of the VHA Health Foundation. "VHA hopes that rewarding and sharing these best practices will go a long way in helping the rest of the not-for-profit hospital community take on this important activity."

Integris Health was honored for both clinical and community benefit excellence at VHA's Leadership Conference in Philadelphia on May 4.