(NIST: Gaithersberg, MD) -- U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson announced four organizations—three health care operations and one nonprofit business—as the recipients of the 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest honor for performance excellence through innovation, improvement, and visionary leadership. This marks the first year that three health care organizations have been selected at one time.

The 2011 Baldrige Award recipients—listed with their category—are:

• Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri (nonprofit)

• Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan (health care)

• Schneck Medical Center, Seymour, Indiana (health care)

• Southcentral Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska (health care)

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