JEFFERSON CITY -- St. Mary’s Health Center has announced it has received the 2009 Missouri Quality Award.  The hospital says it is one of only three organizations across the state of Missouri to win the award this year, and the only one in the health care industry.

In a news releases President of St. Mary's said, "The recognition we’ve been receiving tells a story of committed employees and physicians who are doing whatever it takes to provide the
best patient care anywhere."

Leaders from St. Mary’s parent organization, St. Louis-based SSM Health Care, also commented on receiving the award.

The hospital is ranked in the top one percent of hospitals in the nation for quality, based on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data, as well as the number one hospital in Missouri for quality measures as reported by HealthInsight.