Becker’s is delighted to recognize 52 hospitals and health systems with great innovation programs.
These hospitals and health systems utilize progressive, visionary innovation programs to revolutionize their care provision. Innovation programs often incorporate intensive research, cutting-edge technology, community partnerships, venture arms and more.
We accepted nominations for this list. Contact Anna Falvey at afalvey@beckershealthcare.com with questions or comments.
Note: This list is not exhaustive, nor is it an endorsement of included organizations or associated healthcare providers. Organizations cannot pay for inclusion on this list. We extend a special thank you to Rhoda Weiss for her contributions to this list.
AdventHealth (Altamonte Springs, Fla.). AdventHealth’s clinical AI advisory board serves as a strategic and operational hub that guides integration and application of AI in healthcare. Formed by the vice president of clinical analytics and the senior vice president and chief clinical officer, the board’s mission is to develop knowledge, influence national conversations around AI in healthcare, and transform patient outcomes through responsible and innovative AI use. The board ensures AI initiatives align with the system’s mission, regulatory compliance and clinical goals, while managing risks through a governance framework. The board’s innovative process includes providing strategic guidance, monitoring AI projects through a risk-based governance model, fostering a dynamic learning environment, engaging in national AI networks and overseeing pilot programs. The board also collaborates with clinical and technical teams to assess AI applications, hosts industry speakers, evaluates pilot projects and establishes governance and compliance frameworks. Additionally, it offers AI training to providers and administrators. Since its formation in 2022, the advisory board has achieved significant milestones, including the successful launch of pilot programs in predictive staffing models and automated clinical documentation, and the establishment of partnerships with leading AI organizations and academic institutions.
Advocate Health (Charlotte, N.C.). Advocate Health has emerged as a national and global leader in virtual nursing innovation, revolutionizing care delivery through a large-scale, technology-enabled model that improves patient outcomes while supporting workforce sustainability. With a fully integrated virtual nursing program spanning 23 of its 68 hospitals, Advocate Health’s approach has returned over 15,700 hours to bedside care and saved more than $550,000 by easing bedside nurse burdens and reducing turnover. The model’s flexibility, which offers three distinct care and staffing frameworks, has allowed hospitals to tailor implementations to their unique community and workforce needs. International interest has grown, with nurse executive teams from countries including Singapore and Switzerland visiting Advocate Health to learn from its pioneering work. Future-facing strategies include ambient documentation, all-wired patient rooms and continued interdisciplinary expansion of virtual care.
Avera Health (Sioux Falls, S.D.). Avera Health recently implemented an AI-powered utilization review tool at its flagship, Avera McKennan Hospital, resulting in $44 million in cost savings over three years and a 40% increase in observation-to-inpatient conversions without adding staff. The system has expanded its care delivery through the innovative Avera@Home program, offering modern in-home services, and has broadened its telemedicine efforts to include virtual nursing, addressing both accessibility and staffing challenges. Avera also launched Avera Academy, an educational initiative that supports economically disadvantaged students and new Americans in pursuing healthcare careers. The organization has received national recognition, including the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives’ “Level 10 Most Wired” award and multiple “Stevie Awards” for its public health and branding campaigns. Its commitment to inclusion and patient engagement was acknowledged by the Society for Clinical Research Sites through the “Site Excellence in Patient Inclusion” award for 2024.
Baptist Health South Florida (Coral Gables). Baptist Health South Florida launched Baptist Health Innovations in 2018-19, utilizing a model that emphasizes high-throughput incremental innovation and continuous improvement. The program generates a robust pipeline of inventions, intellectual property, partnerships and commercialization opportunities. The system’s internal innovation engine includes one of the most generous intellectual property-sharing policies nationally, productive collaborations with Florida International University and TriVentures, and numerous successful spin-offs and licensing ventures supporting Baptist Health’s nonprofit mission. Recent key advances include the “HealthChain” application that transformed supply chain efficiency, a collaboration with information and communications technology company Fujitsu that improved operating room prime-time availability by 37%, and a partnership with Mica AI to enhance breast cancer detection. Additionally, the Knight Foundation fellowship in healthcare technology innovation continues to grow, training 35–45 innovators annually and fostering a dynamic innovation community. Baptist Health was recognized by Fortune and Statista as one of the nation’s most innovative companies for two consecutive years.
BayCare Health System (Clearwater, Fla.). BayCare Health System, the largest in West Central Florida, has distinguished itself as a leader in healthcare innovation by integrating advanced technology across clinical and operational settings. It became the first healthcare provider in Florida to implement Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology at St. Joseph’s Hospital, cutting average shopping times from 10–13 minutes to just 3.5. At St. Anthony’s Hospital, BayCare deployed “Relay Robotics”, including a robot that autonomously transports lab specimens, therefore freeing up clinical staff and improving workflow. In supply chain operations, BayCare’s robots at the Integrated Service Center have doubled throughput and reduced team fatigue. These innovations are part of a broader digital transformation, including the expansion of the “BayCareAnywhere” telehealth app, as well as tools like symptom checkers and virtual visits, all aimed at enhancing patient engagement.
Carilion Clinic (Roanoke, Va.). Founded in 2019, Carilion Clinic Innovation helps Carilion Clinic turn staff-led discoveries into tangible improvements for patient care, with more than 100 invention disclosures, over 40 patent filings and 12 innovations in active development. With programs like “The Workshop” and “Innovance”, a well-equipped innovation hub, and partnerships with academic and tech organizations like Virginia Tech and the regional accelerator and mentoring program, the innovation program offers comprehensive support for inventors from early concept refinement to high-fidelity prototyping. These efforts have already led to several medical device developments, including MedLoc, LymphaVibe and Recens Respiratio. Carilion is also investing in consumer digital engagement, expanding virtual care through MyChart and Mytonomy, especially in rural areas that require broadband expansion. Its world-class Center for Simulation, Research and Patient Safety and human factors team, one of few in U.S. healthcare, continue to improve safety, usability and process design, earning recognition from the National Quality Forum.
Children’s Health (Dallas). Children’s Health implements innovative solutions to serve more than 220,000 children annually. For over 35 years, its neonatal and pediatric specialty transport services have been a national leader, offering state-of-the-art air and ground transportation for critically ill infants and children, including over 4,500 transports in 2023 alone. The system was the first in the nation to earn the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems accreditation in ground, helicopter and fixed-wing transport. The system continued to innovate via the 2022 launch of its behavioral health vehicle program, which provides safe, child-friendly transport for eligible psychiatric patients using modified SUVs rather than traditional ambulances. In 2024, the system opened a new 40,000-square-foot hangar, becoming the only pediatric system in Dallas to build and operate its own aviation facility, a move that is expected to improve mobilization times and ultimately patient outcomes. These initiatives are vital to meeting the growing demands of a rapidly expanding pediatric population in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The system was honored by Fast Company as one of the 2024 “Most Innovative Companies”.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Since its founding in 1855, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has been discovering and delivering innovative solutions that change children’s lives. The system is home to many unique translational research programs that bring much-needed solutions to children more quickly, including pioneering cell and gene therapies. Several cell and gene therapy breakthroughs began with research at CHOP, including the first cell therapy for cancer, Kymriah, and the first gene therapy for congenital blindness, Luxturna. The system has also played a critical role in recent breakthroughs, including FDA approvals for the first two gene therapies for sickle cell disease and a first-in-the-nation gene therapy procedure to treat genetic hearing loss. These and other breakthroughs, like more than 25 “frontier programs” focused on translating research into new treatments and cures, the separation of multiple sets of conjoined twins, and a first-ever double hand transplant, have helped millions of children around the world. The system’s researchers are also developing research protocols that are being used in trials worldwide and many of its clinical pathways are the gold standard for the industry.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City (Mo.). Children’s Mercy Kansas City is driven by a mission to improve child health through a combination of breakthrough discovery and translational research. Through its Center for Pediatric Innovation, launched in 2015, the health system has built a unique model that emphasizes needs-based development, ecosystem collaboration and sustainable commercialization. One of its most transformative initiatives is PedsMrkt.com, a first-of-its-kind online business-to-business marketplace launched in 2024 to connect pediatric innovators, clinicians and buyers in an effort to accelerate the adoption of child-focused medical solutions. Children’s Mercy has also cultivated a deeply embedded culture of innovation across its workforce through programs like the “SPARK Employee Innovation Bash”, while its innovation portfolio includes over a dozen medical devices in development along with widely used digital tools like the PedsGuide App, MyMedicalArt and MyCare. The hospital is also a leader in genomic medicine, ethical AI and population health. Children’s Mercy has been recognized with numerous accolades, including FastCompany’s “World-Changing Ideas” award.
Cincinnati Children’s. Cincinnati Children’s stands at the forefront of pediatric innovation, ranked among the best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and honored by Fortune as one of “America’s Most Innovative Companies”. With over $271 million in external research funding and a third of its 19,000-plus employees engaged in research, the hospital fosters groundbreaking discoveries in diagnostics, therapeutics, software and medical devices. In fiscal year 2024 alone, the innovation office received 178 new invention disclosures, signed 16 licenses and celebrated more than 75 innovators, advancing a pipeline of over 1,000 technologies. Major recent milestones include the FDA clearance of the first pediatric acute kidney injury biomarker test, pioneering work in organoid medicine, and the installation of the neonatal MRI system Ascent 3T. Cincinnati Children’s also established a new corporate venture capital arm and appointed its first chief innovation officer to amplify internal and external innovation, including participation in the Midwest Pediatric Device Consortium.
City of Hope (Duarte, Calif.). City of Hope consistently advances research and care delivery through innovation on a global scale. In 2024, the organization finalized its transformation into a fully integrated national cancer system, connecting its Los Angeles research hub to a growing clinical network across the U.S. through a unified EHR and consistent access to innovative treatments, including CAR T-cell therapy and a world-renowned bone marrow and stem cell transplant program. With more than 550 physicians and 1,000 researchers, City of Hope’s clinical and research teams collaborate in real time to deliver exceptional care, supported by a robust infrastructure of tumor boards and expert consultations across campuses. Recent breakthroughs include the development of liquid biopsies for early cancer detection, outpatient robotic liver surgery, and promising CAR T-cell therapies for prostate and brain cancers. Their Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology and the $150 million “Stephenson Prize for Innovation in Pancreatic Cancer” reflect a bold reimagining of both patient experience and cancer research.
CommonSpirit Health (Chicago). CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest health systems, leverages its “open innovation” model to integrate cutting-edge technologies, community partnerships and clinical expertise in ways that improve care access, equity and quality. The system launched the “Connected Community Network”, linking over 900 organizations to address social determinants of health for more than 22,000 individuals. Its integrated behavioral health initiative reached populations new to mental health care, achieving over 60% symptom resolution in 90 days for patients, 75% of whom had never seen a therapist before. AI-powered tools deployed in emergency and outpatient settings have improved patient engagement, reduced administrative burden, and led to measurable gains in satisfaction and clinical efficiency, including an 11.5% drop in emergency department patients leaving without being seen. CommonSpirit embeds equity into all innovation efforts, requiring partners to serve Medicaid and underserved populations, in keeping with its mission as the nation’s largest Medicaid provider.
Community Health Systems (Franklin, Tenn). Community Health Systems focuses on introducing innovative solutions that improve patient care and outcomes, support the workforce or reduce administrative burdens. Over the past few years, the organization has scaled several solutions that are improving health and wellbeing. The organization has introduced a development partnership to embed conversational AI that will improve patient experience and efficiency in the call center, which provides call answering services for nearly 1,000 providers. Innovative partnerships include a groundbreaking relationship with Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs Company to address drug shortages and the rising cost of pharmaceuticals in the hospital setting. Additionally, the organization has implemented a remote patient monitoring and care management at home program for patients living with chronic conditions, as well as a new enterprise resource planning platform to provide greater transparency and efficiency across various business functions.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston). Innovation has been at the core of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s mission since its founding in 1947. Nearly eight decades later, Dana-Farber is still impacting drug discovery and changing cancer care around the world. Wielding that spirit of innovation, Dana-Farber researchers made substantive contributions to over 50% of new FDA approved cancer drugs from 2018-22. In late 2023, the FDA approved the first major advance against clear-cell renal cell carcinoma in 50 years after clinical trials showed improved outcomes for patients with advanced disease. The foundational science for this work was also conducted at Dana-Farber and was awarded the Nobel Prize. More recently, Dana-Farber science led to the FDA approval of the BRAF inhibitor tovorafenib, developed for pediatric low-grade gliomas. Dana-Farber continues to advance innovative therapies such as cancer vaccines, menin inhibitors, bispecfic antibodies, antibody drug conjugates and other next generation tools in the fight against cancer.
El Camino Health (Mountain View, Calif.). El Camino Health became the first health system to adopt EHR in 1971 and more recently became the first in the world to implement FloPatch, a real-time blood flow monitoring system for sepsis care. Located in Silicon Valley, the system leverages its proximity to tech leaders to help maintain a culture of continuous, organization-wide innovation, including the establishment of an innovation fund dedicated to advancing medical technology, clinical research and compassionate care. The hospital system is pioneering numerous cutting-edge initiatives such as wearable monitoring devices, AI-enhanced diagnostic imaging, mobile-based clinical communications, and augmented reality-guided hip replacement surgeries. The Fogarty Institute for Innovation, housed on campus, accelerates medical technology breakthroughs and boosts the system’s reputation as a hub for transformative care. El Camino Health was named to Newsweek’s list of world’s best hospitals for both 2023 and 2024.
Endeavor Health (Evanston, Ill.). Endeavor Health is a leader in personalized medicine, clinical research and healthcare innovation, combining groundbreaking science with exceptional care delivery in local communities. The system’s research institute supports over 700 active research studies, including 550 clinical trials, and with more than 250 principal investigators leading national and global research collaborations. It is home to one of the nation’s largest primary care-embedded clinical genomics programs, with more than 250,000 patients completing genetic and wellness assessments, and over 50,000 receiving targeted genetic testing. Endeavor is also at the forefront of early disease detection and prevention, launching the Davis Family Center for Preventive Genomics and piloting cutting-edge technologies such as multi-cancer early detection liquid biopsy tests. The health system has co-developed Motiv, a virtual cardiac recovery platform, and recently partnered with GenomicMD to introduce a polygenic risk score test that enables clinicians to assess personalized lifetime disease risk. In recognition of the system’s commitment to innovation, Endeavor Health was listed as No. 21 among the top hospitals for AI readiness by CB Insights in 2024.
Hackensack Meridian Health (Edison, N.J.). Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most integrated health system, is a leader in innovation, research and equitable care. Through its Center for Discovery and Innovation and its Research Institute, the system supports over 1,400 active studies and more than 600 clinical trials, all while leading major National Institutes of Health-backed initiatives. The system has launched pioneering ventures like EValuate Diagnostics for early disease detection, partnered with Neosoma for AI-powered brain cancer care, and spearheaded genomic screening through the “genoME” program. In 2024, it became the first health system in the country to achieve networkwide healthcare equity certification from The Joint Commission. The system continues to drive scientific discovery through initiatives like its Institute for Immunologic Intervention and groundbreaking research on immune responses for cancer, tuberculosis and infectious diseases.
Hoag Health System (Newport Beach, Calif.). Hoag Health System advances medical innovation through initiatives like its nationally recognized robotic surgery program, which recently surpassed 30,000 robotic-assisted procedures and celebrates over 20 years of operation. Hoag has earned the designation of a center of excellence in robotic surgery for eight consecutive years, thanks to its dedicated team of 47 surgeons and 10 da Vinci robots that support minimally invasive surgeries across 12 specialties. The system’s recent milestones include the planned expansion of addiction recovery services with the forthcoming CareMar Recovery Center, made possible by a $25 million gift, and the deployment of the HistoSonics Edison Histotripsy System, an FDA-approved, non-invasive ultrasound therapy for liver cancer. Further expanding its innovative reach, Hoag is applying AI to mammography to enhance diagnostic accuracy and support radiologists. The health system is also growing its physical footprint with a new, full-service health center in San Clemente, Calif. opening in 2025, offering urgent care, radiology, OB-GYN, orthopedics and more.
Inova (Falls Church, Va.). Inova’s Advanced Surgical Technology and Education Center is one of the most advanced surgical simulation facilities in the region and a national model for integrating cutting-edge technology with immersive, team-based medical training. As an American College of Surgeons-accredited education institute, the center delivers simulation-based education in a high-fidelity environment with robotics, virtual reality, augmented reality and 3D printing to prepare clinical teams for complex procedures and rare cases. The center also plays a pivotal role in relationship-focused communication training, offering quarterly workshops and simulation programs designed to improve empathy, patient interaction and psychological safety among surgical residents, nurses and physicians. In 2024, the center earned the “Franklin P. Iams” award for fostering a culture of safety through feedback-based training, and it continues to engage community partners, youth and international scholars in outreach and education. The center also supports medical innovation through holographic surgical planning and personalized virtual and augmented reality models that improve preoperative precision and patient education.
Jefferson Health (Philadelphia). Jefferson Health addresses the nursing workforce crisis through bold, multidimensional innovations that improve staff satisfaction and patient care. Central to this effort is the nursing “SEAL” team, a strategic group of highly skilled nurses deployed across 13 hospitals based on real-time staffing needs, providing flexibility, higher pay and schedule predictability. Since its 2022 launch with 25 nurses, the team has expanded to over 150 members and has reduced the system’s reliance on external agency nurses by 95%. The system has complemented this initiative with additional programs including the virtual nurse program for remote nursing support, the nurse emeritus program to re-engage retired nurses to mentor staff and support clinical excellence, and the nurse scientist program, a pioneering academic-practice partnership fostering frontline nursing research. These efforts have led to dramatic improvements in staffing, dropping open nursing positions from more than 1,000 in early 2023 to under 290 by late 2024. The system’s innovative nursing strategy has resulted in the system receiving awards such as the American Medical Association’s “Joy in Medicine” silver level designation.
Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore). Johns Hopkins Medicine blends academic excellence and translational entrepreneurship to transform clinical insights into scalable solutions. Through initiatives like the ACG System, a globally adopted population health analytics tool managing data for over 200 million individuals, the health system enhances predictive modeling and care delivery across diverse healthcare systems. The system expands access and improves outcomes via innovations such as Naviance for cancer navigation, point-of-care IT guides for point-of-care clinical support and nationwide onsite clinics. In addition, the system has launched a series of high-impact startups, including SafeTower, an AI-driven platform for safety event reporting now used across its six hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory clinics, and Illustra Health, which provides analytics tools to support value-based care among small and mid-sized providers. In addition, the system’s venture holdings, such as Protenus for healthcare compliance analytics and Artifact Health for physician documentation efficiency, are influencing industrywide standards in security and administrative streamlining.
Loyola Medicine (Maywood, Ill.). Loyola Medicine, an academic health system and member of Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health, delivers high-quality care across three hospitals and is nationally recognized for innovation in cancer, transplant and cardiac care. It is a pioneer in advanced radiation therapies, including Ethos real-time adaptive radiation and MRI-based gynecologic brachytherapy, and was the first in Illinois to offer CAR-T cell therapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The system’s transplant programs offer innovative robotic kidney transplants, advanced organ preservation technologies and urobiome research to reduce complications. The health system also leads in surgical innovation, ranging from minimally invasive ear procedures to mixed-reality-guided orthopedic surgeries. Initiatives such as the women’s sports medicine program, bloodless medicine and surgery for Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the “Code Sepsis” rapid intervention program demonstrate Loyola’s commitment to inclusive, personalized care. In addition, the system collaborates with the federally-funded Argonne National Laboratory on AI-enhanced imaging and has participated in impactful clinical trials like F-SHARP.
Mass General Brigham (Boston). Mass General Brigham Innovation works to advance patient care worldwide by supporting the commercial application of the latest medical breakthroughs. This effort includes 150 professionals spanning business development, licensing, industry alliances and ventures, including $500 million in capital under management and company creation. Powered by 7,000 Harvard faculty innovators and supporting more than 650 new inventions annually, Mass General Brigham Innovation accelerates translation and monetizes assets to benefit patients, increase value and bring new revenue to the health system. Mass General Brigham Ventures, part of Mass General Brigham Innovation, plays a key role in founding and funding next-generation technologies. To grow the innovation community throughout the health system, the team recently launched the “Innovator Development and Growth Program” which seeks to expand and diversify the pipeline of active inventors and inventions. Mass General Brigham Innovation actively promoted the creation of an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health main street innovation hub in Boston and led educational outreach regarding the agency’s funding programs among the system’s innovators. The group’s keystone annual event, The World Medical Innovation Forum, celebrated its 10th year, drawing more than 2,000 registrants and exploring leading topics in medicine that are prime for innovation and investment activity.
Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.). Mayo Clinic’s “Innovation Exchange” is a premier model for healthcare innovation, purpose-built to accelerate the development and deployment of transformative medical solutions. As a benefactor-funded initiative, the exchange connects both internal Mayo Clinic innovators and global startups with the system’s renowned clinical and operational expertise, helping them overcome regulatory, business and technical barriers. It democratizes access to Mayo’s vast healthcare ecosystem, ensuring that breakthrough ideas of all origins receive personalized support to reach patients faster. Recent successes include helping a Singapore-based digital therapeutics startup focused on neurodegenerative diseases secure $10 million in series A funding, relocate to the U.S. and earn international accolades, all while aligning its platform with clinical standards. The exchange’s omnidirectional collaboration model fosters innovation at scale, bridging global ideas with real-world clinical impact while upholding Mayo’s mission of advancing patient care. Mayo was recognized by Fortune as one of the “Most Innovative Companies” of 2023.
MedStar Health (Columbia, Md.). MedStar Health’s robust MedStar Institute for Innovation is a 200-plus member team dedicated to advancing care across its 300-plus locations. The institute’s multifaceted approach encompasses enterprisewide initiatives like remote visual monitoring, which is now scaled across all 10 system hospitals, thus saving resources and enhancing safety with over 13,000 patient interventions in fiscal year 2024 alone. Its virtual nursing program, with more than 2,500 telehealth-assisted inpatient interactions, complements bedside care and is a key element of MedStar’s “Acute Care of the Future” strategy. In 2024, MedStar launched acute care at home in Washington, D.C., in partnership with DispatchHealth, delivering high-quality transitional care and achieving a 95 net promoter score among patients. Through cutting-edge partnerships such as the systemwide expansion of Suki’s AI-powered voice assistant, MedStar is also revolutionizing clinical documentation to reduce provider burnout and enhance care quality. MedStar and its innovation hubs in simulation, telehealth, AI and workforce wellbeing have earned national accolades from Gartner and the Maryland Department of Health.
MemorialCare (Fountain Valley, Calif.). MemorialCare boasts many leading physicians who are credited with life-saving discoveries in cancer and heart disease, as well as procedures bearing their names. The system’s efforts in pioneering evidence-based medicine started nearly 30 years ago, with scores of guidelines based on best practices adopted by health systems nationwide. Among the first to embrace value-based care, MemorialCare’s success resulted in ground-breaking cost savings and partnerships. With teaching, community and children’s hospitals and over 230 outpatient locations, MemorialCare created Southern California’s most diversified care network, with several value-based employer and health plan contracts. Critical to today’s economic challenges, annual savings to employers and health plans exceed $200 million. For example, a customized seven-year direct-to-employer contract between MemorialCare and The Boeing Co. significantly reduces health costs and improves workforce satisfaction and engagement. MemorialCare has the region’s most comprehensive virtual and e-health programs, with virtual visits exceeding 1 million encounters. The 30-year MemorialCare Innovation Fund has partnered with over 50 privately held, early-to mid-stage companies, offering a gateway to accelerate global advances in healthcare products and services through investments in healthcare information technology, services and medical device innovation.
Memorial Hermann Health System (Houston). Memorial Hermann Health System stands out as a national leader in scalable healthcare innovation, leveraging a systemwide innovation hub and bold partnerships to advance clinical care, improve health equity and empower the future healthcare workforce. Since launching the hub in 2022, the system has initiated over 20 high-impact pilots, including AI-powered ambient listening tools like Ambience that reduce physician burnout and Reimagine Care, an oncology-at-home model that prevents unnecessary emergency department visits. It has also scaled Oxford Medical Simulation for immersive virtual reality-based nurse training, cutting didactic hours by 88% and boosting resident satisfaction. In 2024, the system launched “HEAL High School”, a $31 million Bloomberg-funded program that integrates technical healthcare education into underserved Houston high schools to build a locally-sourced healthcare workforce. Additional innovations include Zipline drone delivery for prescriptions starting in 2026, and genoME, a no-cost genomic screening initiative for hereditary diseases expected to reach 100,000 participants.
Mercy (Chesterfield, Mo.). Mercy is defining healthcare innovation through a legacy rooted in community-centered care and a forward-thinking embrace of transformative technology. It pioneered the world’s first virtual care center in 2015 and remains an innovation leader, most recently launching “hospital-at-home” and implementing robots for autonomous hospital logistics. Mercy’s 365-day continuous glucose monitor, the first of its kind globally, represents a groundbreaking advancement in diabetes care. In addition, partnerships with Microsoft and Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic are leveraging AI and data science to accelerate early disease detection and personalize treatment pathways. “Mercy Works on Demand”, the system’s AI-enabled gig nursing app, has saved over $30 million by reducing reliance on travel nurses and improving workforce efficiency. The system also offers a virtual center for precision medicine, collaborations with healthcare company GRAIL for multi-cancer early detection, and participation in major weight loss research funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The system was named to Fortune‘s list of America’s most innovative companies in 2023, and its work with EHR integration and innovation won third place in Healthcare Innovation‘s annual “Innovator Awards” program in 2024.
Montefiore Health System (Bronx, N.Y.). Montefiore Health System takes innovative action to address the social determinants of health through its groundbreaking Community Health Worker Institute, a joint initiative with Albert Einstein College of Medicine launched in 2021. The institute embeds trusted, trained community health workers into primary, specialty and hospital care settings to bridge the gap between clinical treatment and unmet social needs such as housing, food insecurity and transportation. Since 2018, Montefiore has screened over 300,000 patients for social determinants of health and connected over 23,000 household members to needed resources, with 91.5% of pediatric cases reporting improved outcomes. In 2024, Montefiore expanded its community health worker services across more clinical areas and secured a $2 million New York State grant to establish a gold-standard training program offering 160 hours of education and 2,000 hours of supervised patient engagement. Data-driven outcomes show a 27.1% reduction in missed pediatric appointments and a $1,772 annual cost difference for patients with unmet social needs. Named one of Health Magazine’s “Most Innovative Hospitals” in 2024, Montefiore is setting a national precedent for integrating social care into the healthcare system at scale.
Monument Health (Rapid City, S.D.). Monument Health has implemented a data-driven, patient-centered approach to address substance use disorders and social determinants of health, issuing monthly reports that track key outcomes such as housing placements, treatment assessments and successful transitions into care programs. These metrics show consistent improvement over time and correlate with a notable boost in staff morale, driven by visible progress in patient wellbeing and reduced emergency room and hospital usage. The organization has launched an innovative inpatient addiction medicine program coupled with an ambulatory patient-centered medical home to ensure seamless care across settings. Community health workers and clinical providers lead this innovative initiative, creating continuity between inpatient and outpatient services while addressing the root causes of patients’ health challenges.
Mount Sinai Health System (New York City). Mount Sinai Health System leverages its flagship program, Mount Sinai BioDesign, to develop and commercialize cutting-edge healthcare solutions. Founded in 2017, the program bridges clinical expertise with engineering and has grown into a nationally recognized hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, having supported over 100 early-stage innovations, 17 startups, 17 patents and 65 industry partnerships. With robust internal development and a focus on external collaborations, the program plays a central role in helping startups and major industry players navigate health system integration and accelerate the development of transformative clinical care tools. Key achievements include hosting the first New York Brain-Computer Interface Symposium, forming a high-impact partnership with Advanced Development of Additive Manufacturing for custom 3D-printed bone implants, and launching the Comprehensive Center for Surgical Innovation backed by an $11.6 million grant. Mount Sinai BioDesign faculty have also led record-breaking breakthroughs, including the placement of 4,096 electrodes on a human brain, ushering in a new era of brain-computer interface research and applications.
NCH Healthcare (Naples, Fla.). NCH Healthcare System is a community-based innovator, advancing the standard of care through pioneering programs, high-impact partnerships and clinical excellence. As a locally governed nonprofit advanced community health system, NCH serves Southwest Florida through its two hospitals and over 1,100 affiliated physicians, delivering award-winning care across specialties including cardiology, orthopedics, stroke and pediatrics. The Rooney Heart Institute and Wingard Stroke Institute represent best-in-class innovative treatment programs, with the stroke institute being the only comprehensive stroke center on Florida’s west coast designated by The Joint Commission. The system’s commitment to innovative partnerships is evident in its collaborations with New York City-based Hospital of Special Surgery, the nation’s No. 1 orthopedic program, and with Miami-based Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Its groundbreaking virtual patient safety technician program, launched in 2024, has already reduced patient falls and observation costs significantly using remote video monitoring and EHR integration. The system currently has major facilities under development, such as new cardiac and musculoskeletal centers. NCH has earned top-tier recognitions like inclusion on Healthgrades’ “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” list for 2025.
Northwestern Medicine (Chicago). Northwestern Medicine combines advanced technology, above-average workforce engagement and pioneering clinical innovation. The health system’s innovation program has driven the implementation of ambient listening tools like Nuance DAX Copilot, significantly reducing clinician documentation burden, while robotic platforms such as Moxi are improving operational efficiency and staff satisfaction by automating delivery tasks. Clinically, the system has advanced patient care through innovations like “Lungs in a Box” to expand transplant eligibility, awake kidney transplants to reduce anesthesia risk and recovery time, and the deployment of pulsed field ablation for safer, more effective AFib treatment. The system also emphasizes health equity through its African American transplant access program and Hispanic pulmonary and thoracic program, ensuring inclusive access to advanced care. The system also brings cutting-edge treatment to the point of need via its mobile stroke unit, first in Illinois, and its bedside neurosurgical drill. In addition, Northwestern Medicine empowers clinicians to co-create the future of medicine through workforce-driven innovation programs like an annual competitive grant program and the NM-Q Medical Device Studio, which works with Northwestern University to source medical device ideas.
OSF HealthCare (Peoria, Ill.). OSF Innovation is a collaborative network of different disciplines designing strategic solutions to advance the future of healthcare. Launched in 2016, OSF Innovation embraces rapid changes in healthcare, generates ideas, problem-solves and creates solutions to complex problems. Comprising the performance improvement division, OSF Ventures, the Innovation Studio, the Jump Simulation program and a healthcare analytics team, OSF Innovation focuses next-generation business and care models, community health and social drivers of health, radical efficiency, big data and the internet of things, and genomics and precision medicine. These efforts have resulted in 237 grant-funded projects, 140 peer-reviewed publications and 12 patents, helping OSF reshape care delivery through cutting-edge technology and strategic academic collaborations. OSF has also furthered its commitment to clinical excellence by expanding its microlearning platform, which provides clinicians with real-time knowledge to enhance patient care and safety. The OSF “STEAM” program, aimed at inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals, reached 31,194 learners in 29 states in 2024 alone.
Ochsner Medical Center-New Orleans. Ochsner Medical Center–New Orleans is an innovation hub within the Gulf South’s largest nonprofit healthcare system, leveraging a network of 46 hospitals and over 370 care centers. Through innovationOchsner, the system pioneers advanced digital tools, analytics and personalized medicine, while initiatives like Ochsner Ventures and the $10 million Louisiana Innovation Fund foster emerging healthcare solutions and local economic growth. Its digital medicine program has delivered outstanding clinical outcomes, with over 70% of patients achieving hypertension and A1C control within a year. Recent innovations include the “Connected MOM” program for remote maternal blood pressure monitoring and a systemwide rollout of DeepScribe ambient AI documentation, improving both clinician efficiency and patient satisfaction.
Phoenix Children’s. Phoenix Children’s has established itself as a leading pediatric health system by centering innovation and developing custom in-house technologies that enhance care, safety and patient outcomes. With a culture that encourages clinicians and staff to contribute to the innovation process, the system has created cutting-edge tools like predictive algorithms, real-time dashboards, and digital apps that streamline clinical decision-making and improve operational efficiency. The system has implemented a digital surveillance program that uses EHR data to flag at-risk patients, along with home-monitoring apps for conditions such as epilepsy, cleft palate and leukemia, with each solution bringing measurable success in reducing hospital visits and readmissions. Phoenix Children’s also constructed an enterprisewide data lake to unify over 70 disparate systems, enabling seamless access to powerful insights for thousands of clinicians across the organization. Innovative partnerships, such as one with Amazon’s Alexa for real-time mental health interventions, have allowed over 46,000 behavioral health screenings to occur, with 10% of at-risk patients receiving immediate care from a therapist. The system has been recognized with numerous accolades, including College of Healthcare Information Management Executives’s “Innovator of the Year”.
SSM Health (St. Louis). SSM Health is a Catholic, nonprofit health system nationally recognized for its commitment to innovation, quality and advancing health equity. Recent initiatives include expanding behavioral health access through urgent care and injection clinics, launching in-home post-hospital care and improving clinical trial access for oncology patients. The organization has also prioritized workforce sustainability with a dynamic nursing strategy, tuition programs and a focus on nurse wellbeing. Leveraging AI, SSM Health has partnered with Nuance to reduce physician documentation burden, and with Atalan to predict and prevent clinician burnout up to a year in advance. The system also led an infection prevention initiative that significantly reduced catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and hospital-onset clostridioides difficile infection rates. The system has been recognized on College of Healthcare Information Management Executives’ “HealthCare’s Most Wired” list for 11 consecutive years thanks to their continuous tech-enabled improvements in patient care and clinician support.
Sanford Health (Fargo, N.D.). Sanford Health encourages innovation through Sanford Medical Center Fargo (N.D.) and the medical center’s 8AB Innovation Unit, a dedicated medical-surgical team that pilots forward-thinking solutions to enhance patient care and operational efficiency. Since its inception in 2019, the innovation unit has launched systemwide initiatives like the Sanford Accountability For Excellence “SAFE” huddle boards, which transformed shift communication and now engage over 42,000 Sanford Health employees. The innovation unit’s dyad leadership model, which pairs physicians with nursing leaders, has improved communication, accountability and patient outcomes across the Fargo region. Technological breakthroughs include a patent-pending electronic rounding dashboard that has reduced falls by 40%, and the successful pilot of the Artisight AI platform for remote nursing, which is now being implemented enterprisewide. The team’s grassroots approach to clinical problem-solving has resulted in additional innovations such as a nurse-designed portable supply table and plans for Hillrom Smart Beds.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis, Tenn.). For decades, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists have made steady progress in finding cures for children with catastrophic diseases. They have increasingly been taking a team science approach to speed discovery and fill the gaps in knowledge stemming from the complexity and diversity of pediatric cancers and other life-threatening conditions. The St. Jude Research Collaboratives program was established to create multidisciplinary teams consisting of St. Jude scientists and their peers at other institutions. Together, they work to address specific challenges involved in the treatment of pediatric cancers and other catastrophic diseases. Proposing a collaborative requires a St. Jude principal investigator to assemble a team composed of leading scientists from St. Jude and other institutions. St. Jude then funds approved projects. Since 2017, six different St. Jude Research Collaborative projects have been funded, representing an investment of more than $80 million with institutions.
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health (Palo Alto, Calif.). Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is a national leader in pediatric and obstetric care innovation, with a strong focus on health equity and digital transformation. Its clinical informatics and translational data science programs lead national efforts to develop AI-driven tools that prioritize privacy and equitable access for young patients, such as secure large language models and natural language processing models aligned with the 21st Century Cures Act. The institution’s endocrinology team led the equitable 4T study on continuous glucose monitoring in Type 1 diabetes, ensuring inclusion of underrepresented populations and improving outcomes using remote monitoring tools. Recent advancements include AI-powered premature birth prediction using wearable data, an expanded 3D cardiac imaging heart-matching program to reduce transplant wait times, and the opening of a new simulation center to improve care team training. Thanks to these groundbreaking efforts, the system was recognized for innovation by Parents magazine in 2020 and by Health.com in 2023, among many other recognitions and designations.
Sutter Health (Sacramento, Calif.). Sutter Health, one of the nation’s largest integrated healthcare systems, serves over 3.5 million patients with a mission to provide a seamless, equitable, innovative and digitally-enabled care experience. As part of its ambitious innovation agenda, Sutter is developing a continuous care program to help patients manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension from home, while integrating AI tools to identify hospital patients at risk for critical events such as cardiac arrest or C. diff infection. Its Innovation Center in San Francisco drives advances in remote monitoring and digital health. Meanwhile, the Scout by Sutter Health app, a “Webby Award” winner, offers a nonclinical mental wellness tool for youth that has already garnered over 18,000 downloads. AI is transforming Sutter’s stroke and cancer programs by quickly and precisely detecting large vessel clots and early-stage lung cancer, simultaneously supporting clinicians by automating documentation and triaging patient communications through partnerships with Epic and Abridge. Sutter also empowers maternal care with its “care companion” digital plans, supporting two-thirds of its expectant mothers with personalized guidance while reducing clinician workload. In addition, Oakland, Calif.-based Sutter Bay Hospital-East Bay Advanced Care has become a trailblazer in infectious disease treatment, particularly in HIV care and prevention services. The system has earned accolades from Fast Company, Fortune, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives and others for its pioneering role in digital health, equity and provider-focused innovation.
Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital. Tampa General Hospital has rapidly transformed from a regional community hospital into a nationally recognized academic health system and a beacon of healthcare innovation. At the heart of this transformation is the CareComm Command Center, which utilizes AI and predictive analytics to enhance care coordination, prevent adverse events and streamline hospital operations. The system has further advanced its digital infrastructure through its expanded partnership with Palantir Technologies, building a care coordination operating system that embeds real-time data and large language models into frontline workflows. The hospital is also a leader in digital health adoption, deploying technologies like DAX Copilot from Nuance to alleviate physician administrative burden and Apella to optimize operating room safety and efficiency. Its “TGH at Home” program has successfully provided high-acuity care to more than 800 patients in their own homes, reducing readmissions and saving over 3,400 inpatient bed days while earning high patient satisfaction. With programs like “IdeaMVP”, “TGH Innovation Week” and its national startup pitch competition, Tampa General has cultivated a culture of innovation that permeates every level of its organization, earning numerous accolades including Newsweek’s “World’s Best Smart Hospitals” for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Texas Children’s Hospital (Houston). Texas Children’s Hospital stands as a national leader in pediatric care and innovation, ranking in the top 10 for all pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. A trailblazer in medical advancements, Texas Children’s pioneered the laparotomy-assisted, two-port fetoscopic closure for spina bifida, which has now been performed in over 200 mothers, significantly improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. The hospital supports a culture of research and innovation with centers like the Russell and Glenda Gordy Center for Innovative Therapies and the Duncan Neurological Research Institute, which has contributed to over 85 genetic discoveries and published more than 1,700 studies. In 2024, Texas Children’s launched the Virtual Care Network, returning 500-plus hours to NICU nurses, and Ambient Scribe, an AI-powered documentation tool, as well as a new data science center to advance AI and machine learning in pediatric medicine. Additional initiatives include a nursing-led innovation council that co-develops new clinical tools and a virtual reality program that reduces anxiety in pediatric patients. Texas Children’s has received the “Most Wired” designation from Hospitals & Health Networks Magazine.
UChicago Medicine. UChicago Medicine, a leading academic health system, exemplifies innovation across clinical care, research and community engagement. Since 2023, the system has expanded its footprint through a joint venture in Chicago’s western suburbs with Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth and by opening a 130,000-square-foot multispecialty center in Crown Point, Ind., bringing specialized care closer to diverse communities. With a deep commitment to health equity, UChicago Medicine operates a violence recovery program that connects trauma victims to community support, and is partnering with the City Colleges of Chicago to launch a new clinical lab and learning center aimed at creating jobs and career pipelines. The system is also a pioneer in the ethical application of AI, having implemented health tech company Abridge’s ambient AI platform to reduce clinician burnout and improve documentation for over 600 providers, with systemwide expansion underway. UChicago’s Duchossois Family Institute recently debuted the first clinical-grade microbiome drug manufacturing facility at an academic institution, supporting cutting-edge research into gut health and personalized medicine. Further cementing its leadership, UChicago Medicine is building Illinois’ first freestanding cancer care and research facility, the AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion, which will integrate clinical treatment and translational science in a 575,000-square-foot space upon opening in 2027.
UMass Memorial Health (Worcester, Mass.). UMass Memorial Health pursues innovation through its robust digital health strategy and deeply embedded culture of continuous improvement. The system’s digital transformation spans five domains, including telehealth, remote care, AI-powered data strategies and a seamless digital front door. Its “Innovation Station” platform has amassed over 132,000 employee-submitted ideas since 2012, contributing to $6 million in cost savings in the past year alone and a 47.7% rise in implemented solutions. Initiatives like dedicated IV rooms in computed tomography departments and streamlined nursing home billing via Epic have brought about measurable impact, including reduced wait times and improved workflow. The safer-at-home program, born from collaborative ideation, secured $6.5 million in funding to support in-home patient care. Lean training, meanwhile, has empowered 95% of the workforce with white belts and improved operational efficiency.
University Hospitals (Cleveland). University Hospitals innovates through the efforts of UH Ventures, which has generated over 470 invention disclosures, 600-plus patent applications, and more than 115 commercialization agreements in the past five years. Programs like “Medtech Flyers”, the “Feuer Innovation Accelerator” and the “Technology Validation and Startup Fund” provide early-stage support for innovations, while the system’s new strategy and innovation team ensures alignment between clinical priorities and enterprise strategy. The system is also a pioneer in integrating AI into clinical practice, notably with its radiology AI and diagnostic innovation collaborative program, which led to the system being the first American College of Radiology-recognized center for healthcare AI. The system makes an impact on the community through key collaborations, including the fellowship in innovation, research and entrepreneurship with Northeast Ohio Medical University and via community health-focused initiatives like the “IDEATOR” competition on gun violence prevention. The launch of the SportsLand program, alongside the UH Haslam Sports Innovation Center, has positioned Cleveland as a national destination for innovation in sports medicine and performance technology. Thanks to these forward-thinking programs, the system has earned accolades like inclusion on Fortune’s “America’s Most Innovative Companies” list for 2023.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston). The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has earned global acclaim as a leader in cancer care, research and innovation by cultivating a dynamic, progress-driving ecosystem. Through its dedicated innovation team, the institution fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, integrates cutting-edge technologies and develops scalable solutions like the “My Referral Status” digital tool for new patients. Innovations extend beyond technology, including the “Patient Ambassador” program that adds a human, personalized touch to guide patients through emotionally challenging experiences. MD Anderson’s recently launched Institute for Data Science in Oncology integrates AI, machine learning and computational science with vast clinical and research data to unlock insights that can transform oncology care. These advancements exemplify the institution’s three guiding innovation principles of collaboration, observation and impact while reinforcing MD Anderson’s top rankings for cancer care, safety and smart hospital leadership by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek and Vizient.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (Tacoma, Wash.). Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is an integrated health system known for its innovation in care delivery and its historic leadership in quality and safety. Through the Virginia Mason Production System, a pioneering adaptation of the Toyota Production System, the system empowers frontline staff to lead continuous improvement efforts that enhance both patient and team member experiences. Recent systemwide advancements include reducing outpatient therapy no-shows by 21.83%, eliminating 90% of emergency department bottlenecks, creating additional emergency care spaces without new construction and standardizing bedside shift reports to reach 100% patient-reported effectiveness. The organization has achieved significant clinical outcomes such as a 90% reduction in unnecessary inpatient blood draws and increased colon cancer screening and transitional care visit completion. With 40 system events conducted in fiscal year 2024 and leadership from the system’s chief innovation officer, the system is transforming care delivery through lean innovation and patient-centered design.
WMCHealth (Valhalla, N.Y.). WMCHealth is making strides in advanced medicine and cell-based therapies, particularly for pediatric and hematologic conditions. The system’s Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital has led a groundbreaking clinical trial for sickle cell disease that allows children to undergo stem cell transplants using tissue-mismatched family donors, expanding treatment access for patients lacking fully matched donors. The success of this innovative protocol, published in a peer-reviewed journal, marks a significant advancement in managing and potentially curing sickle cell disease. Central to these accomplishments is the system’s cellular and tissue engineering laboratory, a state-of-the-art 8,000-square-foot facility dedicated to producing investigational cellular therapies for a range of specialties including oncology, neurology and cardiology. The lab recently enabled a successful sibling-to-sibling stem cell transplant for a child with aplastic anemia, further showcasing its critical role in regenerative medicine.
WVU Medicine (Morgantown, W.Va.). WVU Medicine leverages innovative clinical programs, groundbreaking research and strategic partnerships to improve care delivery throughout West Virginia. Its flagship WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute is globally recognized for pioneering the use of focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier and deliver targeted treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and substance use disorders. The institute’s team is currently advancing clinical trials using focused ultrasound combined with anti-beta amyloid antibodies, positioning the health system at the cutting edge of neurological disease treatment. The system’s Heart and Vascular Institute is a national leader in robotic cardiac surgery and has earned widespread recognition for advanced cardiovascular therapies and training. The system also addresses health disparities through its aspiring nurse program and a hospital-based nursing school, both of which help counter workforce shortages and expand access to care. The system also worked with two regional healthcare providers to form Peak Health, a health insurer and health insurance services company. Through Peak Health and the system’s role in the WVU Innovation Corporation, WVU Medicine fosters a unique provider-payer collaboration that supports insurance reform, job creation and economic development.
WellSpan Health (York, Pa.). WellSpan Health’s innovation efforts, driven by its 30-plus member in-house team dedicated to reimagining healthcare through advanced technologies and transformative partnerships. The health system became the first Epic user worldwide to achieve the prestigious five-diamond status, recognizing its industry-leading MyWellSpan portal, which supports over 70% of patients in managing their healthcare digitally. Expanding virtual care access, WellSpan launched a virtual on-demand care program in collaboration with telehealth company KeyCare, and introduced Duo, a fully virtual primary care option. The system has rapidly implemented AI tools such as Aidoc, which prioritizes life-threatening scan results across its 220 locations, and Nuance DAX, a voice-enabled ambient documentation solution. Through strategic alliances with forward-thinking partners like General Catalyst, Helix and Truveta, WellSpan Health builds scalable, tech-enabled solutions that improve outcomes, access and clinician wellbeing. Recognized eight times in the past decade as a “Digital Health Most Wired” system by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, the system also received accolades for health equity innovation and remains a top-ranked employer in the state.
Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health. Yale New Haven Health System’s Center for Health Care Innovation is a dynamic joint initiative with Yale University, launched in 2019 to advance digital health, diagnostics and medical devices. With a portfolio of 24 early-stage projects and startups, the center fuels innovation through its “Innovation Awards”, which grant up to $150,000 to support high-impact solutions, and its “Strategic Innovation Investments Fund”, which backs startups that transform patient care and operational efficiency. Among its most impactful achievements is a cardiac arrest documentation app, developed in partnership with Epic, which automates real-time resuscitation documentation and has been scaled nationally following a successful pilot. The innovation center also worked with supply chain platform Clarium Health to modernize supply chain workflows and invested in its seed round alongside top healthcare venture capital firms. In addition, the center partnered with health tech company Latent to deploy generative AI that accelerates pharmacy prior authorizations. Another standout collaboration with RxLightning digitized the specialty medication enrollment process, reducing patient wait times to 1–2 days. By supporting healthcare innovation from ideation through implementation, the innovation center positions Yale New Haven Health as a national leader in scalable, tech-forward health solutions.
