The South Carolina Quality Forum, administrator of the Governor's Quality Award, proudly announces that Roche Carolina, Inc. has been awarded the Governor’s Quality Gold Achiever Award.  This and the other awards will be presented at the annual conference to be held October 17, 2006 at the William L. Yates Conference Center at the Hospital Association in Columbia, SC.

Dr. Frank Cox, President and General Manager, Roche Carolina, Inc. said of the award: “I am deeply honored to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the talented men and women at Roche Carolina Inc. (RCI).  We strive as a group to foster a culture of quality at our facility in Florence.  To that end, we believe that the principles of the Baldrige Model have served as an important touchstone in driving and measuring improvement of our business systems.  We also recognize that awards such as this are not a goal, but rather a milestone.  Nonetheless, we are grateful for such recognition as we work to produce high quality medicines and other innovative healthcare solutions.

Selection as a recipient of this award is a testament to the hard working men and women of Roche Carolina who everyday strive to foster a culture of quality and the pursuit of perfection.”

Additionally, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System is being recognized as a Silver Achiever at this year’s annual conference.  Valinda Rutledge, CEO, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System offered these comments:

“We believe that providing the highest quality of care and services is not an option—it is an imperative part of fulfilling our mission.  By incorporating the Baldridge Criteria and a focused Six Sigma approach in quality management, we are relentlessly conscientious in our efforts to pursue excellence across all levels of our health system.

This achievement, the 2006 SC Governor’s Quality Award – Silver Achiever, belongs to every employee for the dedicated and compassionate work that they commit to every day in serving our patients and our community.”

Larry Bryant of the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department is being recognized as this year’s Milliken Medal of Quality honoree.  Mr. Bryant said, “It is a great honor to be recognized with the Milliken Medal of Quality. It reflects the commitment to quality our agency’s staff demonstrates every day to help South Carolinians with disabilities become successfully employed.”

“The citizens of our state deserve a vocational rehabilitation program that is effective and accountable, and we have found that the Baldrige Criteria form a great basis for our agency’s performance measurement and continuous improvement.  We will strive to apply the ideals represented by this award as we face the challenges that remain ahead.”
Our keynote speaker, is Dr. Stephen Mittelstet, President Richland College, Dallas, Texas a 2005 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Winner.  Richland College, under Dr. Mittelstet’s leadership, is the only community college to receive the National Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award in 2005.
To participate in the South Carolina Quality Award Conference, register on our website www.scquality.com or call 1-888-231-0578.