2007 Award Recipients

• Bellevue University
  The 2007 Edgerton Award of Commitment was presented to Bellevue University because of the commitment of the leadership of Bellevue University to engage adult learners in active-learning design and innovative, applied curriculum.
  
  Bellevue University was founded by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce over 40 years ago as Bellevue College, offering traditional semester-based programs in a single building near Offutt Air Force Base.
  
  Today the University offers 20 degree completion programs and 15 Masters Degree programs.  Besides the traditional class-by-class model for degree programs the University offers busy, working adults an accelerated bachelor’s degree completion program.  This program gives the adult student the ability to transfer credit for previous learning into a 15-month intensive study program.  
  
  The 648 employees of BU are focused on preparing individuals and institutions to meet the challenges of a dynamic competitive economy.  The University is a leader in adult learning and delivery models that yield continuing real world mastery.  Innovation and market responsiveness are instrumental elements in their quest for excellence.
  
  Through insightful leadership and planning, sound fiscal management, defined work processes and the use of key measurements and a system of internal and external performance reviews the University has maintained a leadership position among 21 Midwestern peer institutions.  BU has a competitive rate for tuition and required fees and maintains a positive rate of growth in degree completions.
  
  
  Tim White, President of Nebraska Diplomats joins in the presentation of the Edgerton Award of Commitment to Dr. Peter Heineman, Director, Quality Assurance for Bellevue University, along with Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy
  
• Alegent Health
  Alegent Health received the 2007 Edgerton Award of Commitment because of its dedication to creative, visionary leadership committed to holistic healthcare.
  
  Alegent Health is a not-for-profit, integrated health care delivery system founded in January 1996 through the consolidation of two health care systems in the greater Omaha area: Bergan Mercy Health System and Immanuel Medical Center. Supporting this system are 8,646 employees and 1,963 volunteers who provide compassionate quality health care services. 
  
  Alegent ‘s CEO announced a “Quality Revolution” for the organization in 2004 recognizing a more intensive focus on quality in order to become a world-class health organization. 
  
  By engaging over 500 stakeholders within the organization the AH vision was developed:  “to achieve world class leadership in compassionate, faith-based health services that measurably enrich the lives of families we serve through an exceptional commitment to quality.”
  
  AH defines four commitments that form the basis of daily accountability and interaction: relationships, quality, innovation, and stewardship.  The introduction of an innovative narrative tool, ethnography, provided for an enhanced listening tool for former patients.   Results of this focus can be seen in the increased level of patient satisfaction and improved employee morale.
  
  AH uses a continuous quality improvement methodology called FOCUS PDSA (Plan, Do, Study, Act).  Use of other process improvement tools including rapid cycle change, LEAN principles, and Root Cause Analysis all provide data for continual improvement of processes and clinical outcomes. 
  
  
  Tim White, President of the Nebraska Diplomats joins in the presentation of the Edgerton Award of Commitment to Dr. Mark Kestner, Chief Quality Officer, Alegent Health, along with Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy

Recognition of 2007 Edgerton Examiners and Judges 
The role of the examiners and judges is critical to the success of the program.  They are highly trained professionals who are on loan from a business, some are retired, some use vacation time and some are private consultants who give up a week’s worth of time to perform this valued service. 

This year examiners and judges contributed over 1000 hours in training, reviewing the application, conducting site visits, and writing the feedback report.  Each examiner makes a personal commitment to provide feedback on the strengths and opportunities for improvement.  These are the reports that the awardees use to continue their journey to performance excellence.  To each of you and your employers we offer our sincere thanks for your support for The Edgerton Quality Award. Your contributions are what make the program successful!

 2008 Examiners and Judges Recognized at Business and Industry Day
Jolene Hansen; Dr. Linda Wysong Becker;Tim White, President of Nebraska Diplomats; Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy; Brian Van Ormer, Dr. Michael Horn; Dave McCracken, ASQ Chair

2007 Examiners and Judges
Dr. Michael Horn
Dr. Linda Wysong Becker
Dr. Ann Fetrick
Jolene Hanson
Toni Herrera
Ron Hein
Becky Nickel
Cynthia Schroeder
Brian Van Ormer
Sharon Vandegrift
Dean Wilson
Robert Yazowski