Innovation (Editorial)

This issue of the Health Information Management Journal (HIMJ) has been dedicated to the topic of innovation, and its papers include some striking examples of innovation by Health Information Managers (HIMs) in their field of specialisation. In the modern business world innovation is critical if organisations are to remain competitive in a challenging and ever-changing global environment. Healthcare provision, unlike more conventional industries, does not always need to compete for customers. It is, however, constantly burdened with unlimited demand for, and limited supply of its services, and the necessity for innovation applies in the heathcare sector as in any other industry. If, therefore, the healthcare sector does not look for innovative, cost-effective or even cost-saving solutions, it will continue to struggle under the pressures of increasing demand. Health information processes, being critical vertebrae in the healthcare system's backbone, provide essential advice on where innovations are required, where costs are escalating and where costs can be minimised. They foster the gathering of information from new connections and from insights gained by journeys into other disciplines or places, from active, collegial networks, and from fluid and open boundaries. As HIMs, we must lead in the collection of high quality data and feed critical information into the healthcare sector to encourage, facilitate and support necessary innovation.