GE, athenahealth, and Sermo are among the top 10 innovative healthcare companies named by Fast Company. Kaiser Permanente is the sole healthcare provider on the list.
GE was recognized for its Healthymagination initiatives, athenahealth for its work on the physician billing, practice management and medical records front, and Sermo for its online physician community.
"This recognition is emblematic of a culture and spirit at Kaiser Permanente that enables the transformation of healthcare," said Kaiser Permanente CIO Philip Fasano. "Our electronic health record and Garfield Health Care Innovation Center are exciting examples of the innovation fostered throughout our organization and are the starting point in our journey to deliver real-time, personalized healthcare."
"Fast Company's recognition of what athenahealth would coin our 'missionary work' in bringing the gospel of cloud computing to healthcare is gratifying, and we are flattered to be acknowledged amongst Fast 50 peers that are world-renowned for rewriting the rules for positive change in their own industries," said Jonathan Bush, athenahealth's chairman and CEO.
The healthcare top 10 is one of several lists published last week by the magazine Fast Company. Other categories include media, advertising, music, sports, finance and retail. Other innovators recognized include Facebook (at No. 1 overall), Amazon, Apple and Google.
To create this year's Most Innovative Companies issue, Fast Company's editorial team analyzed information on thousands of businesses across the globe, executives said.
"It was invigorating to engage with so many exciting new ideas and developments," said Fast Company editor Robert Safian. "Our goal was to offer a snapshot of the creativity at work in the global marketplace, and to inspire the Fast Company audience with illustrations of how powerful and effective business can be."
Overall, Fast Company recognized more than 250 companies, including more than 75 non-U.S. businesses.
For the full list of healthcare innovators, along with Fast Company's reasoning for each of the selections, click on next page:
1. GE - Its Healthymagination program is investing $6 billion over the next several years in mobile scanners, digital information, and other innovations in health care. Top 50 No. 19
2. PatientsLikeMe - The new model of online support groups, PatientsLikeMe has real-world data on symptoms and treatments. Top 50 No. 23
3. athenahealth - Jonathan Bush's physician-billing-and-practice-management business is bringing the benefits of cloud computing to the doctor's office. Top 50 No. 43
4. Sermo - Physicans use this free Web service to discuss treatments and other medical issues anonymously. In September, the "Facebook for doctors" became a political force when members amassed 10,000 signatures for a petition opposing the American Medical Association's acceptance of the House health-care reform bill.
5. Kaiser Permanente - It is working with the nation's VA hospitals to launch one of the largest electronic-medical-record pilot programs in the country. Its Garfield Center test lab does research on telemedicine and Wii-based exercise programs.
6. Walgreens - Other pharmacies, including CVS and Walmart, have moved into the low-cost public-clinic space, but Walgreens, with its 350 Take Care Clinics across the U.S., is at the forefront of the trend. This January, the chain announced its Optimal Wellness program, designed to help customers track and monitor chronic conditions such as diabetes.
7. Intuitive Surgical - In 2009, Intuitive introduced a new version of its da Vinci robotic system, with 3-D high-definition imaging and greater magnification.
8. Cisco Systems - Cisco has been positioning itself as a leader in the telemedicine space by partnering with insurance giant UnitedHealth Group to install mobile virtual clinics in under-served areas in the U.S. So far, the program has been tested, with positive results, in rural areas of New Mexico and California. Top 50 No. 17
9. Second Sight - San Diego-based Second Sight has used its groundbreaking retinal-implant technology to bring (limited) sight to dozens of blind patients worldwide. Now its procedure is on the brink of FDA approval for use in the U.S.
10. American Well - Unlike other telemedicine companies, American Well partners with insurers, including Blue Cross and UnitedHealth Group, to pair patients with physicians via Web consults. Its software-based system has been implemented in Hawaii and Minnesota; the company plans to go nationwide later this year.