September 15, 2003

Dear Colleagues:

Congratulations! The Johns Hopkins Hospital once again has received the Consumer Choice Award for both the Washington and Baltimore regions from the National Research Corporation (NRC). Hopkins was one of only a few hospitals to earn top choice status in a dual-market region, according to NRC, a firm specializing in health care performance measurement. The company issues its annual awards to hospitals with the highest quality and image ratings based on the firm's syndicated health care market guide survey of households in 130 markets.

Informed health care consumers are ultimately the final arbiters of a hospital's reputation and quality. We are honored that year after year, consumers in the Washington and Baltimore regions continue to select us as number one.

As NRC's president points out, the facilities recognized are those "named as leaders by those they serve. The winners deserve recognition for the emphasis they have placed on providing quality, patient-centered care."

Of the 3,000 hospitals named by consumers in the survey, the top 175 rank highest in their Metropolitan Statistical Areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. The 2003 telephone survey queried more than 140,000 households representing 400,000 consumers in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia.

The Johns Hopkins Hospital would not be viewed so favorably by so many people year after year if it were not for the hard work and unrivaled commitment to excellence you exhibit each and every day. We thank you all.

Sincerely,