OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Office of the Lt. Governor of Oklahoma, in partnership with the Oklahoma Quality Award Foundation, proudly congratulated the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health (CNDH) on its achievement as a 2024 recipient of the Malcolm Bridge National Quality Award.
The Baldrige Award is the nation's only presidential award for performance excellence and is given annually to organizations that demonstrate organizational resilience.
The award highlights CNDH's commitment to excellence, resilience, and innovation in healthcare.
"We are extremely blessed to have the dedicated employees and leadership of the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health working every day in service of the Chickasaw people and other First American patients," said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. "I congratulate them on receiving this prestigious Baldrige Award. Since first compacting to provide our own health services 30 years ago, our employees have committed themselves to excellent and convenient care for our patients. We will continue to strive for improved health outcomes for First Americans."
Notably, CNDH received a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, placing it among the top 10% of healthcare organizations in the country.
CNDH also stood out for patient satisfaction, with a top-tier ranking for patients' willingness to recommend its services and for keeping a low workforce turnover rate, demonstrating its dedication to both patient care and employee engagement.
"The Chickasaw Nation Department of Health's recognition as a national leader in healthcare is a testament to their hard work, vision, and commitment to providing top-quality care," said Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell. "Their success not only benefits the Chickasaw people but also elevates the entire state of Oklahoma. We are immensely proud to see this level of excellence and resilience from an organization that continuously pushes boundaries and sets new standards in healthcare."
The redesigned Baldrige Award criteria focused on helping organizations thrive in an ever-changing environment.
This achievement underscored CNDH's ability to adapt, innovate, and sustain excellence, providing a blueprint for others in Oklahoma and across the nation.
"The Oklahoma Quality Award Foundation is honored to celebrate the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health's achievement," said Heath Wright, Executive Director for the Oklahoma Quality Award Foundation. "The Baldrige Award reflects the organization's journey toward performance excellence and its commitment to continuous improvement, which is core to our foundation's mission of promoting best practices across Oklahoma. We applaud the CNDH for setting an inspiring example for other healthcare providers."
The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is managed by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and it remains the only presidential award for performance excellence across sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and nonprofits.
