The Microsoft Health Users Group, in conjunction with the Health Information and Management Systems Society, is calling for entries for its annual Innovation Awards.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. CST on Jan. 22, 2010.

The Microsoft Healthcare Innovation Awards are presented annually to the healthcare organization and technology solutions partner that best demonstrates industry leadership in using technology to achieve innovation excellence in each of the following categories:

• Clinical Records – Inpatient

• Clinical Records – Ambulatory

• HIE and Interoperability

• Microsoft HealthVault Applications

"Healthcare organizations are uniquely positioned to improve the quality and delivery of healthcare through evidence-based medical innovations and smart technology solutions," HIMSS officials said. "The Microsoft Healthcare Innovation Awards, now in its 13th year, is an opportunity to showcase how your organization and your customer's organization, is using technology to enhance and transform the quality of patient care, reduce costs, streamline clinical and business processes, drive interoperability, improve productivity and workflow and enable informed decisions."

Entries will be judged primarily on whether the product:

• Represents a breakthrough from the industry's historical approaches.

• Goes beyond incremental improvements on technologies that already exist.

• Measurably improves significant business and/or clinical processes that positively impact patient care.

The award committee will accept nominations from healthcare organizations worldwide except Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Nominees must have developed and implemented a solution independently or working with a technology solution partner, using the latest Microsoft technologies such as BizTalk Server, Windows Server, MOSS 2007, Windows Mobile, SQL Server, Microsoft Surface, Xbox or Office System 2007.

The award emphasizes the innovative application of available software and the creation of new solutions. For purposes of the contest, healthcare organizations include hospitals, health systems, clinics, group practices and public health organizations.

Winners and finalists will receive guidance from Microsoft on how to promote themselves and will have the option to present a track session at the Fall 2010 Microsoft Health Users Group Exchange.

Winners will be awarded the Microsoft Health Users Group 2010 Innovation Awards Trophy presented at the Microsoft Booth Theater on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, from 3-3:20 p.m., during the HIMSS 2010 conference in Atlanta.

Official entry forms, rules and regulations can be found at the Microsoft Health Users Group 2010 Innovation Awards website at www.mshug.org/awards.