Modern Healthcare is accepting submissions for the third annual IT Case Study Contest. The program recognizes healthcare information technology implementation projects that have improved patient care and that also may be eligible for funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly known as the stimulus law. The submission deadline is April 29.

Healthcare organizations or corporations whose primary function is providing healthcare services to patients or financing healthcare services for patients are eligible to participate. Submissions must be written by a chief information officer or senior-level IT executive and must include the following:

• A description of the health IT or system adopted, including cost, manpower and other resources needed.
• Evidence of how the health IT or system is being used to improve patient care or patient-care delivery.
• The strategy for seeking funding for the health IT or system adopted from the stimulus law.

Submissions must be no longer than 900 words and must include a color photo of the author and one of a caregiver using the IT or system. Submitted case studies must be original and exclusive to Modern Healthcare. Hard-copy submissions should be sent to: IT Case Study Contest; c/o Christine Grace, Modern Healthcare, 360 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60601. Electronic submissions should be sent to mheditorial@modernhealthcare.com.

Several leading healthcare CIOs will assist an editorial review board, consisting of senior editors at Modern Healthcare, in reviewing the submitted case studies. The best case studies, as determined by the editorial review board, will be featured in a special section of the July 4 issue of Modern Healthcare. All submitted case studies will appear in a special section on ModernHealthcare.com. Modern Healthcare reserves the right to edit or not publish case studies for appropriateness of content.

Last year's IT Case Study Contest drew 19 entries. The five best case studies were awarded first through fifth place. To read last year's winning case studies, please visit the Recognition section on ModernHealthcare.com. The five winning case studies are not eligible for this year's competition. Nonwinning entries are eligible. For complete contest details, please visit the Recognition section of ModernHealthcare.com. For more information, contact Modern Healthcare Assistant Digital Editor Christine LaFave Grace at 312-649-5225 or cgrace@modernhealthcare.com.