HR0210 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0210 LRB096 11727 GRL 22455 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence was founded in 1994; the foundation is a publicly and privately supported not-for-profit organization created to significantly raise Illinois' worldwide competitiveness by improving the performance of its institutions and businesses; and

WHEREAS, The Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence Award process is a three-level process, consisting of The Bronze Award for Commitment to Excellence, The Silver Award for Progress Towards Excellence, and The Gold Award for Achievement of Excellence; the award process allows organizations to measure themselves against The Lincoln Foundation's Seven Criteria for Performance Excellence, patterned after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award; the seven criteria are Leadership, Strategic Planning, Customer Focus, Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge Management, Workforce Focus, Process Management, and Results; and

WHEREAS, The Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence has awarded the 2008 Lincoln Silver Award for Progress Towards Excellence to the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System in Mattoon and St. Mary's Good Samaritan, Inc., in Centralia/Mt. Vernon; and

WHEREAS, The Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System (SBLHS) is comprised of a parent corporation and five separate sub-entities that each have a distinct Board of Directors linked to the governing board of the health system; SBLHS was established in 1977 through the merger of hospitals in Mattoon and Charleston and continues to be the only hospital in these communities; a significant expansion of the SBLHS focus occurred in 2007, when the Mission Statement was revised to direct the organization to provide exceptional health care for "all" persons within the community; this inclusive scope has led to increases in charity care and bad debt expenses; and

WHEREAS, St. Mary's Good Samaritan, Inc., (SMGSI) is a Catholic, not-for-profit corporation pursuing a vision to create a comprehensive, regional health care enterprise covering a nine county area in south central Illinois; SMGSI was created in 1996 through a unique and visionary Joint Operating Agreement between SSMHC and FSI; the organization has a strong culture that is reflected in its mission, vision, values, and quality principles; through history and tradition, SMGSI holds a special concern for the poor and vulnerable; the characteristics of Exceptional Health Care, Exceptional Patient Care, Exceptional Commitment, and Exceptional Financial Performance have provided a foundation for all planning and healthcare service delivery; and

WHEREAS, The Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence has awarded the 2008 Lincoln Bronze Award for Commitment to Excellence to United Cerebral Palsy Land of Lincoln in Springfield; and

WHEREAS, United Cerebral Palsy Land of Lincoln (UCP) is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit corporation with a voluntary Board of Directors; it was founded in 1957 by a group of community leaders and parents of children with cerebral palsy; the group affiliated with the national organization, United Cerebral Palsy (UCPA), in 1968, expanding the service area to 27 counties in central Illinois; over the past 50 years, UCP has grown to a multi-million dollar organization, operating from three buildings in Springfield and one in Decatur, and providing a range of services to children and adults with disabilities and their families; the mission of UCP is to maximize independence and opportunities for full participation in the community for individuals with cerebral palsy or other disabilities and their families, by raising the standard for quality programs, service, and advocacy; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize The Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence and its efforts to assist Illinois organizations to strive for performance excellence; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we thank each of the organizations the Foundation has recognized for the devotion to excellence they have demonstrated; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to The Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence and to each of the 2008 Performance Excellence Award recipients as an expression of our respect and esteem.