CIHA is the primary health care system for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, as well as other federally-recognized American Indians/Alaskan Natives, located in Cherokee, NC. CIHA provides its members with state-of-the-art health care and other support services within a system of inpatient and outpatient resources that is consistent with the history, culture, and values of the Cherokee People.
CIHA began their continuous improvement journey in 2011 and achieved the North Carolina Performance Excellence Program’s Level 1 Award in 2014. CIHA has been using the Baldrige framework as a guide to improve their processes and make progress toward achieving their goals and objectives through better organizational planning and learning, while strengthening their strategy and communication and striving to become the Employer of Choice, Provider of Choice, and Investment of Choice.
“Reaching this milestone in our path to excellence is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of the CIHA staff and an illustration of our commitment to assuring the prosperity of the next seven generations of the EBCI. We are honored to continue this journey in collaboration with the NCAfE,” said CIHA CEO Casey Cooper.
“The organization recognized this year represents dedication and perseverance,” said NCAfE Director Kevin Grayson. “Their achievements in performance excellence inspire growth within their industries and communities. We are proud to support them on their journey.”
About the North Carolina Awards for Excellence (NCAfE)
The North Carolina Awards for Excellence (NCAfE) program is administered by NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions.
NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions, established in 1955, is the extension and outreach team for the NC State University College of Engineering and administers the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) for North Carolina (NCMEP). IES supports all North Carolina businesses by providing connections, networking with industry experts, and helping to identify the resources and customized programs needed to increase productivity, efficiency, quality, and profit.
Based upon the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the North Carolina Award for Excellence (NCAfE) is the top state-level recognition presented to an organization that has demonstrated the highest level of performance excellence through its practices and achievements. continued
The management framework enables leaders at businesses, hospitals, factories, schools, and government bodies to examine every layer of the organization and devise strategies to align people, plans, and processes, reach goals, improve results, and become more competitive.
The framework consists of the Criteria for Performance Excellence and offers a recognized way to achieve the following benefits:
- Innovation
- World-class results
- Integrated processes that enhance effectiveness and efficiency
- Organizational learning
- Sustainable success
For more information and the North Carolina Awards for Excellence, visit ies.ncsu.edu/ncafe.
