HIMSS Middle East, organizer of UAE eHealth Week, in collaboration with Elsevier, a global provider of science and health information, has opened submissions for the third HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Award in the Middle East.

 This award, given annually across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe, recognizes outstanding achievements and innovations in health IT that advance patient care and safety.

The deadline for submissions in the Middle East is September 14, and the winner will be announced during the plenary session on November 12, the first day of the HIMSS UAE eHealth Week 2017 in Dubai.

Nominees can submit their entries to two award categories; Outstanding ICT Achievement and Outstanding ICT Innovation. The judges for this year will include figures from HIMMS and Elsevier, as well as healthcare leaders from the Ministry of Defence in Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health in Kuwait.

“Last year, the Middle East edition of the HIMSS-Elsevier Award received 25 submissions compared to 11 in 2015,” said Jeremy Bonfini, executive vice president, HIMSS International.

“We are extremely delighted in the increased awareness and participation in this global platform. More facilities are now setting these extraordinary benchmarks in improving care delivery using information technology. Through the HIMSS-Elsevier Award partnership, we have seen the excellent work of over 130 projects. These projects have resulted in cost savings of more than $12 million and have improved clinical outcomes all over the world.”


Tim Hawkins, managing director of Elsevier Clinical Solutions, (EMEALA), said: “As a leader in health informatics, at Elsevier we believe in the potential of technology to support healthcare providers to improve the delivery of healthcare and so, in turn, patient outcomes. We’re delighted to partner with HIMSS to recognise and share innovative that drives real benefit.”

Last year, the award program witnessed strong participation with 25 submissions in total, with entries from healthcare organizations across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a two-time HIMSS-Elsevier award winner, clinched the “Outstanding ICT Innovation” award, while SAAD Specialist Hospital emerged winner in the “Outstanding ICT Achievement” category. Their projects were recognized during the HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Award Celebration held at the HIMSS Middle East UAE eHealth Week 2016.

Since its launch, the HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Award has attracted 139 submissions from 81 organizations across 21 countries. In total, the submitted projects have impacted over 41 million patients worldwide. – TradeArabia News Service