PHOENIX — At its 2016 CIO Fall Forum, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) honored a variety of CIOs and others for contributions to the field of healthcare information technology.

Craig Richardville, senior vice president and CIO at Carolinas HealthCare System, was named the CHIME/HIMSS John E. Gall CIO of the Year. Sponsored by CHIME and HIMSS, the award recognizes healthcare IT executives who have made significant contributions to their organizations and demonstrated innovative leadership through effective use of technology. Richardville and his team are pioneering advances in the use of health IT to ensure that Carolinas HealthCare System is positioned to move to a value-based delivery model, CHIME explained.

David Higginson, senior vice president and CIO at Phoenix Children's Hospital, was given CHIME's Innovator of the Year Award. Higginson has used lean principles to not only reduce spending but also free up valuable resources and allow his organization to pursue innovative solutions for improving care, CHIME said. 

[Healthcare IT News names Phoenix Chlidren's #1 Large Hospital IT Department 2016]

CHIME also honored other health IT leaders for public policy work, collaboration, and others.

Randy McCleese, vice president of information systems and CIO at St. Claire Regional Medical Center, was given the Federal Public Policy Award for CIO Leadership. McCleese serves on CHIME's Policy Steering Committee and has been instrumental in helping inform members of Congress and regulators about the impact health policy has not only on small and rural communities but across the care continuum, CHIME said.

Linda Hodges, vice president and information technology practice leader at Witt/Kieffer, was given the CHIME Foundation Industry Leader Award. During her long career, Hodges has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to helping CIOs and health IT leaders in their charge to transform the nation's delivery system, CHIME said.

Steve Hess, CIO at the University of Colorado Hospital, was given the CHIME Collaboration Award. Among his accomplishments, Hess teamed with analytics firm LeanTaas to develop a solution that has given patients greater access to life-saving treatments without forcing them to spend countless hours in the waiting room, CHIME explained.

Healthcare IT News names Best Hospital IT Departments 2016: 
⇒ Meet the winners
⇒ CIOs reveal what makes an IT shop great 
⇒Interactive map: Best Hospital IT Departments 
⇒ See the people who make their IT departments winners