Banner Health in Top 100 of InformationWeek's Top 500
PHOENIX (Sept. 15, 2010) – Banner Health is in the top 100 in this year's InformationWeek 500 -- an annual list of the best technology innovators in the U.S.
This is the first time that Banner Health has made the list, joining the ranks of internationally known companies such as Marriott, Merck, Dell, Coca-Cola and FedEx. Six health care and hospital systems were named in the Top 100 of this prestigious listing.
“It is an honor for Banner Health to have earned a spot in the Top 100 of InformationWeek’s 500 list,” said Peter Fine, President and CEO of Banner Health. “At Banner Health, we realize that innovation is critical to our drive toward industry leadership and we believe innovation is essential to ensuring an extraordinary patient experience that is safe, efficient and effective.”
This recognition comes as Banner Health is seeing the benefits of substantial investments it has made in programs such as simulation education, electronic medical records, telemonitoring and e-pharmacy.
Banner Health’s simulation education program was featured in the InformationWeek article published with the rankings. It profiled the Banner Simulation Medical Center, is a 55-bed virtual hospital that offers training in settings such as Emergency, Operating Room, Labor & Delivery, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric ICU, Adult ICU and general nursing unit. The Simulation Medical Center is a part of Banner Health’s systemwide approach to simulation education, which includes satellite facilities and mobile training programs throughout the seven states that it serves.
Banner Health also is implementing electronic medical records, computerized provider order entry and patient identification at its hospitals. By the end of 2011, all Banner Health facilities will offer this, making it one of a select number of health systems to have this sophisticated level of care.
Banner Health also received additional distinctions of national leadership in 2010. It was named as a Top 10 Health System in the Nation by Thomson Reuters and as a Top 10 Integrated Health System in the Nation by SDI.
"For 22 years, the InformationWeek 500 has honored the most innovative users of business technology," said InformationWeek Editor In Chief Rob Preston. "As we start to emerge from the worst recession in decades, the IT focus is now on driving growth—new sources of revenue, new relationships with customers, even new business models. This year's ranking placed special emphasis on those companies and business technology executives leading that charge."
InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices. Additional details on the InformationWeek 500 can be found online.
About Banner Health
Headquartered in Phoenix, Banner Health is one of the largest, nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns or leases 23 acute-care hospitals, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services including family clinics, home care and hospice services, and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming.
