Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock Honored With Governor's Quality Award at Achievement Level

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock has received the 2026 Arkansas Governor’s Quality Award at the Achievement Level from the Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence (AIPE), recognizing its commitment to quality, continuous improvement, and performance excellence.

The Achievement Level recognizes organizations with well-deployed, systematic processes and a growing record of data-driven improvement.

The award was presented on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the 32nd Annual Governor’s Quality Award Celebration at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock. The recognition marks the hospital’s advancement from the Commitment Award level it earned in 2025 and the Challenge Award level in 2024.

“This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire staff. Participating in the Governor’s Quality Award process challenged us to rigorously evaluate our operations and identify meaningful ways to elevate patient care, and we are incredibly proud of the continuous improvements our team has achieved for the North Little Rock community,” said Cody Walker, president of Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock.

Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock became part of Baptist Health in 1962 and has served patients at its current location off Interstate 40, Exit 156, since 1999. The nationally recognized, faith-based hospital has 225 licensed beds and offers comprehensive services delivered in an inviting, less institutionalized setting.

Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock’s Emergency Department is a Level III trauma center, which means it has demonstrated the ability to provide advanced trauma life support (ATLS) prior to the transfer of patients to a higher-level trauma center.

“Earning a Governor’s Quality Award at any level takes real commitment,” said Trish Villines, Executive Director of the Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence. “Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock took an honest look at how it operates, used examiner feedback to get better, and invested in its people and processes. That work strengthens not only the organization, but the people and communities it serves. We’re proud to recognize their progress and look forward to seeing where their excellence journey leads next.”

About Baptist Health

Baptist Health, Arkansas' most comprehensive health care organization, has provided high-quality care rooted in Christian compassion and innovation for over a century. As the state's largest private not-for-profit health system, Baptist Health is here For You. For Life. With more than 300 points of access, our extensive network includes 14 hospitals, over 75 primary and specialty care clinics, urgent care centers, a senior living community, and educational programs, including a college for nursing and allied health studies and a graduate residency program. Supported by approximately 12,000 employees and renowned physicians, we deliver groundbreaking treatments and impactful community outreach programs. Baptist Health is proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work and is recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Admired Workplaces. To learn more, visit Baptist-Health.org, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app. Stay connected with us on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

About the Governor’s Quality Award Program

About the Governor’s Quality Award Program The Governor’s Quality Award Program, administered by the Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence (AIPE) in partnership with the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, helps Arkansas organizations of all sizes strengthen their performance and achieve sustainable success. Using the Baldrige Excellence Framework, the program guides organizations through a multi-level process – from establishing foundational systems at the Challenge level to demonstrating role- model results at the Governor’s Award level. Each stage provides valuable feedback and a roadmap for improvement.