Public Voting Phase in 3M Innovation Award Contest Now Underway

Through Oct. 8, the 3M Infection Prevention Division invites the public to visit www.3mhaicontest.com and vote for its favorite infection prevention program (either video or PDF document) to win the "Innovation Award" contest. Each site visitor may vote for one contest entry once per day (midnight to midnight CST).

Submission from the following institutions met all eligibility requirements to continue to the public voting phase:

Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, Philadelphia, Pa.

Bend Surgery Center, Bend, Ore.

Blue Ridge Healthcare, Morganton/Valdese, N.C.

Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, Del.

Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, N.Y.

Harrington Hospital, Southbridge, Mass.

Mississippi Baptist Hospital, Jackson, Miss

New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Pella Regional Health Center, Pella, Iowa

Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, N.J

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

St. Johns Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, Mo.

St. Josephs Mercy Health Center, Hot Springs, Ark.

St. Vincents Medical Center, Jacksonville, Fla.

The winning program will be the one that that receives the most votes. The creators of the winning program will receive a $5,000 educational grant from 3M to continue their innovative initiative. They will also receive an expense-paid trip to 3M to meet with the Infection Prevention Division, take a tour of 3Ms Innovation Center and participate in educational opportunities with 3Ms infection prevention experts. Five runners-up will each receive a $1,000 educational grant. The winning video and runners up will be announced on Oct. 18, 2010 at the start of International Infection Prevention Week.

To vote for your favorite program, visit www.3mhaicontest.com, check out the entries in the "View Entries" tab, and select the program youd like to vote for. Click the Vote Now button on the right hand side of the screen, fill in your name, email address and company in the appropriate spaces and select Submit Vote. If you would like to share your favorite program with others and encourage them to vote, click Share Now.