With transformational change emerging across the U.S. healthcare system, the time is ripe for every kind of innovation in the system. Fortunately, the leaders of hospitals, medical groups, and health systems are gathering together their colleagues and moving forward in countless areas to improve care quality, patient safety, cost-effectiveness, clinician workflow, financial and organizational operations, and every other area within healthcare.
At a time when the pressures to create change are more intense than ever, it is extremely gratifying to know that the pioneers in healthcare are stepping up to the plate and delivering. In that regard, it is once again our privilege and pleasure as the editors of Healthcare Informatics to be able to recognize innovation pioneers through our Healthcare Informatics Innovator Awards Program. This year, we’re recognizing four teams at four winning healthcare organizations nationwide, as well as nine semi-finalist teams, for a broad range of innovations in a variety of operational areas.
All of these wonderful teams and their leaders embody the spirit of innovation in healthcare, and the spirit of our Innovator Awards Program. We hope you, our readers, enjoy the articles in this cover story package, and are able to benefit from them. We will be releasing the winners over the coming week. On Monday, we'll release our nine semi-finalist teams; Tuesday, will be our third place winner; Wednesday will have the two teams that tied for second; and Thursday will have our winning organization. We'll also have additional information on these organizations in advance of our 2014 Healthcare Informatics Innovator Awards Reception at HIMSS14 in Orlando, where all of them will be recognized.
Congratulations to all the finalist and semi-finalist teams, and to their organizations! It is deeply gratifying for those of us at HCI to be able to showcase all these innovations, and to play our part in helping to move the U.S. system into the new healthcare.
—The Editors of Healthcare Informatics
