The Butler Health System is the first two-time recipient of the state's Excellence in Health Care Compliance Award.

The award, now in its second year, is given to health care facilities that have no health citations during the last state licensure survey and no major life safety code deficiencies on the last building inspection.

All 220 department-licensed hospitals are eligible. Seven facilities received the award this year, and seven received the award last year.

But Butler Health System is the only facility to receive it twice. Secretary of Health Michael Wolf presented the award Monday at the hospital.

“Gov. (Tom) Corbett's Healthy Pennsylvania initiative focuses on ensuring affordable, quality health care for all Pennsylvanians and it's important that we recognize those facilities that are excelling at these goals,” said Wolf.

“This award signifies the positive contributions and hard work of those who deliver top-notch care every day to the families and communities they serve.”

The Department of Health licenses and oversees all hospitals statewide.

In addition, the department does about 2,000 inspections annually, including licensure and certification surveys, follow-up surveys and complaint investigations. Each facility is survived multiple times in different areas.

Diane Wilson, the health system's system improvement manager, accepted the award on behalf of BHS. Speakers included Joanne Salsgiver, state chief of the state's division of acute and ambulatory care; Dr. Thomas McGill, vice present of quality and safety at BHS; and Stephanie Roskovski, chief operating officer at BHS.

“We work among miracles at BHS,” Roskovski said. “It is good fortune, and more than that, it is the nature of health care. In our technology, in the quality of our medicine, examinations and procedures, we are awed by the role of the miraculous.

“Miracles start with quality care and caring hearts. The quality of care and the caring heart of the employees and physicians of BHS play an integral role in the creation of these miracles.”

Also among those in attendance at the presentation were members of BHS board of trustees and foundation board as well as state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21, and Butler Mayor Maggie Stock.

“I congratulate Butler Health System on this prestigious award,” Stock said. “A quality medical facility is one more piece of a successful community.”

To view hospital surveys from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, visit www.health.state.pa.us and select “Hospitals” under the “Facilities, Providers and Managed Care Plans” tab.