The HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies Award of Excellence recognizes excellence in the implementation and use of health information technology, specifically electronic health records (EHRs), for healthcare organizations, private practices and public health systems
Originally created by CPRI-HOST in 1994, the first three recipients of the Davies Organizational Award were recognized in 1995. Today management of the program continues under HIMSS of which CPRI-HOST merged with in 2002.
The Award honors Dr. Nicholas E. Davies, an Atlanta-based practicing physician, president-elect of the American College of Physicians, and a member of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Improving the Patient Record, when he tragically died in an airplane crash in 1991 with Senator John Tower. Dr. Davies was an accomplished physician who believed that the computer-based patient record was needed to improve patient care.
The Davies Award is based on an evaluation framework that involves a two-step process, and modeled after the Baldrige Award. Applicants are asked for assessment and documentation of their progress based on four key areas including management, functionality, technology and overall value. The application process serves as an introspective self-assessment that is valuable for planning an EHR implementation. A Committee of the applicant’s peers, many former Davies recipients, independently score the applications, and then convene to determine site visit candidates.
Since its inception in 1994, the following number of awards have been received across the three award categories:
