Poudre Valley Health System has won a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced today in Washington.

Fort Collins-based PVHS was one of three national recipients of the nation’s highest presidential honor for organizational innovation and performance excellence. It was the only health care organization honored.

The other 2008 Baldrige Award recipients are Cargill Corn Milling North America of Wayzata, Minn., and Iredell-Statesville Schools, of Statesville, N.C.

“I am pleased to join President Bush in announcing these three outstanding organizations that have been named to receive this year’s Baldrige Award,” Gutierrez said. “Quality, innovation and competitiveness are essential to maintaining America’s global leadership and providing our citizens with world-class products, health care and education. Each of the recipients we honor today serves as a role model embodying the values of excellence, principled leadership and commitment to employees, customers, partners and community.”

The recipients were selected from a field of 85 applicants. All were evaluated by an independent board of examiners in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; work force focus; process management; and results.

Named after Malcolm Baldrige, the 26th secretary of Commerce, the Baldrige Award was established by Congress in 1987 to enhance the competitiveness and performance of U.S. businesses. The award promotes excellence in organizational performance, recognizes the achievements and results of U.S. organizations, and publicizes successful performance strategies. The award is not given for specific products or services.

Since 1988, 75 organizations have received Baldrige Awards, including the Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business at the University of Northern Colorado in 2004.