Hospital wins Kansas Excellence Award

Lawrence Memorial Hospital is one of four businesses in the state to win a 2003 Kansas Excellence Award.

The award, given by the nonprofit Kansas Award for Excellence Foundation, seeks to recognize businesses that have started quality management practices to improve business.

The award process involved a 50-page application detailing the hospital’s business practices in addition to an on-site visit by judges.

Janice Early-Weas, director of community relations for LMH, said the lengthy application process was one of the reasons the hospital chose to enter the contest.

“It serves as a good internal review,” Early-Weas said. “We’re always looking for ways to be more efficient without losing sight of our patients or employees, and this helps us do that.”

Gene Meyer, LMH president and CEO, said the award also should help convince residents of the community-owned hospital’s financial practices.

“We’re always doing all we can to hold down costs and this is one way to demonstrate that,” Meyer said.

The other Kansas businesses to receive the award were Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Wichita Division, and Boeing Wichita Supply Management and Procurement.

LMH has been honored by the organization during past four years, but this is the first year the hospital has won the group’s top award. Hospital administrators will be recognized at a banquet Nov. 4 in Wichita.