FORT COLLINS - Previous announcements notwithstanding, President Barack Obama won't be presenting the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award to Poudre Valley Health System after all.

Pam Brock, PVHS vice president of marketing and strategic planning, said she was notified that Obama would not be available to present the award in a ceremony set for Dec. 2 in Washington, D.C., and either Vice President Joe Biden or Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke could do the honors instead.

"Of course, we're disappointed, but Obama's absence does not change the fact that PVHS worked diligently to receive the recognition and to change the organization into a world-class health care provider," she said.

A group of about 50 PVHS administrators, board members and employees are set to fly to the nation's capitol for the ceremony.

PVHS began working to earn the award in 1999 and was notified of the accomplishment in November 2008.