With massive change sweeping across healthcare, there has never been a time in which internally driven innovation has been more important. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act last June and the decisive results of the fall elections in November, industry changes driven by federal healthcare reform are falling steadily into place, at the same time that the meaningful use process under the HITECH Act moves forward through Stage 2 and the horizon appears for Stage 3. Then of course, there’s the work being done to prepare for the transition to the ICD-10 coding system. With all these mandates for change, as well as others coming from the purchasers and payers of healthcare, both public and private, one can think of no better time for innovative work to transform healthcare delivery.

That’s why it is our privilege and pleasure as the editors of Healthcare Informatics to be able to recognize innovation pioneers every year through our Healthcare Informatics Innovator Awards program. This year, we’re recognizing four teams at four winning healthcare organizations nationwide, as well as two honorable-mention teams. All six teams—from a very broad range of types of healthcare organizations, including a multi-hospital system-affiliated medical group; a public health institute; a Beacon Community consortium; a community hospital; and a three-hospital academic health system—have shown exceptional leadership in diverse areas.

These wonderful innovations speak for themselves. Congratulations to the winning teams! It is always deeply gratifying for us to be able to showcase these achievements on the part of the true pioneers in our industry, whose teams are helping lead us forward into the new healthcare.

—The Editors of Healthcare Informatics