Dr. William Hazel, Jr. MD, Virginia Secretary for Health and Human Resources, has announced the first annual Virginia Healthcare Innovators Awards, aimed at honoring Virginia organizations/entities that have developed innovative ways to improve quality and/or efficiency.

Awards will be given to organizations/entities that have developed breakthrough products, processes or services with the potential to revolutionize healthcare in Virginia. This leadership, demonstrated through excellence in innovation, will be judged in each of the following categories:

Patient Care: Applies to organizations/entities that either directly furnish patient care services (e.g., hospitals, physician groups, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical diagnostic laboratories, etc.) or organizations that support the provision of direct patient care services (e.g., clinical research organizations, quality improvement organizations, etc.).

Medical Product or Device: Applies to organizations/entities involved in the development, manufacture or distribution of medical products or devices (e.g., pharmaceuticals, biologicals, implantable devices, medical equipment, etc.).

Health Information Technology: Applies to organizations/entities involved in the development, distribution or implementation of health information technology (e.g., clinical information systems, electronic health records, telehealth, etc.).

Employee Health: Applies to organizations/entities that have developed or implemented innovative ways to improve the quality or enhance the efficiency of health care services furnished through employee health programs (e.g., employer health programs, employee assistance programs, etc.

Application is online at www.virginiahealthcareinnovators.org.  The deadline is January 14, 2011