This research is the first to empirically test the causal relationship in the Malcolm Baaldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) Health Care Pilot Criteria. The Baldrige model of quality management for the health care industry is tested here using data from 220 US hospitals. Results of confirmatory structural equation modeling show that many of the hypothesized causal relationships in the Baldrige model are statically significant. For example, Leadership (Baldrige Category 1.0) is identified as a driver of all components in the Baldrige system, including information aand analysis, strategic planning, human resource development and management, and process management.