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Lee Health Is the First Healthcare System in Florida to Be Recognized with the Governor’s Sterling Award

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Lee Health is one of two organizations in Florida to be selected in 2024

(Fort Myers, Fla. – May 15, 2024) --- Lee Health is honored to be the first healthcare system in Florida to be recognized with the Governor’s Sterling Award, granted by the Sterling Council. The Sterling Council is a public/private partnership supported by the Officer of the Governor that manages the Sterling/Baldrige National Criteria for national standards and best practices for performance excellence in the state of Florida. 

The Florida Sterling Award is a prestigious recognition bestowed upon organizations in Florida that demonstrate exemplary performance in several key areas including leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, measurement, analysis, knowledge management, workforce focus, operations focus, and results. 

To receive the Florida Sterling Award, organizations must complete an application detailing performance, initiatives, and results, along with supporting documentation. A team of performance excellence experts then reviews the application and conducts further evaluation, which includes site visits, interviews with leadership and employees, and examination of documentation and evidence provided by the organization.

“It is an incredible honor to be the first healthcare system in Florida to be recognized with the Governor’s Sterling Award and be among some of the best organizations and institutions in the region,” said Larry Antonucci, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Lee Health. “This is a testament to every single employee across our entire health system for their dedication and commitment to the highest quality of patient care. It took extraordinary teamwork to achieve the level of excellence required to be honored with this award and we will only continue to improve and grow from here to deliver even better care in the future.” 

The Florida Governor’s Sterling Award is available to all types of organizations around the state, including businesses, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, nonprofits, and government agencies. Organizations that demonstrate excellence in performance, leadership, and operations are recognized every year. The award is a landmark achievement for any organization committed to demonstrating continuous improvement and excellence. 

In 2015, Lee Health’s Cape Coral Hospital was also awarded the Sterling Award, which has recognized organizations and businesses in Florida for the past 32 years. 

On Friday, May 31, 2024, Lee Health will be honored with the award at the culmination of the 32nd Annual Sterling Conference in  Orlando.

To learn more about Lee Health, please visit www.leehealth.org

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