FAQ

You should select a group classification that fits the website or digital initiative that you are entering. In a number of cases, an entry could be submitted for consideration in two different group classifications, which requires two separate entries. For example, a large healthcare system might enter its website in Division I as a Healthcare System and Division II as a Consumer General Health Site. A cancer site could be entered under both Healthcare Association/Professional Society in Division II and Consumer Disease-Focused Site in Division II.

The group classification is generally based on the “purpose” of the site, and not its “sponsor.” For example, a site that supports the membership of an association would be entered under Division II, Healthcare Association/Professional Society. But if that same association entered a site that is focused on educating consumers about a certain disease or medical condition, the site would be entered under Division II, Consumer Disease-Focused Site.

If you believe your entry qualifies under more than one Group Classification, submit an additional entry for each additional Group you believe to be appropriate. (The form will accept only one Group Classification at a time.)

Below are descriptions of each classification. Please be aware that the Awards Committee will make its best effort to ensure that every entry is entered in an appropriate classification. If it is believed that an organization’s site is misclassified, the site will be switched to the appropriate classification and the organization will be contacted and advised where its site is being placed.

Division I

Hospital under 200 beds, 200-399 beds, 400+ beds: An organization with a certain number of staffed beds.

Healthcare System: This conforms to how the organization views itself. Generally, it is an organization with multiple hospitals and/or other healthcare facilities.

Hospital Subsite/Center of Excellence: Website (or digital initiative) is part of a larger website or is a standalone/separate site that focuses on a special service or subject area. Examples include sites for heart services/hospital, women’s services, cancer care.

Medical Practice/Clinic/Outpatient Facility: An organization that provides physician services, urgent care, and other outpatient medical services. Also covers dental offices.

Senior Care Organization: Site for an organization that operates a skilled nursing, long-term care, assisted living or hospice facility. Also covers home health care organizations.

Other Healthcare Facilities: Organizations such as rehabilitation facilities, psychiatric facilities, behavioral health facilities, etc. Also long-term care, home care agencies, etc., that don’t define themselves as Senior Care organizations.

Division II

Healthcare Association/Professional Society: Sites for membership organizations, governmental agencies, nonprofit health-promotion organizations.

HMO/PPO/Other Insurers: Websites where a significant part of the site focuses on meeting the needs of members or target audiences. If the site mainly focuses on supplying healthcare content, it should be classified in Division II under either Consumer General Health Site or Consumer Disease-Focused Site. Also includes sites for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).

Consumer General Health Site: Sites that are primarily focused on general health or broad healthcare issues.

Consumer Disease-Focused Site: Sites that are focused on a specific disease, illness, or condition.

Physician/Clinician-Focused Site: Sites that target a medical or other healthcare professional audience.

Pharmaceutical or Medical Equipment Manufacturer: Sites where the sponsorship from pharmaceutical or medical equipment companies is very obvious. These sites can target medical professionals, consumers, corporate investors, or a combination of any of these groups. If the sponsorship from these companies is subtle, the site would be classified in Consumer General, Consumer Disease, or Physician/Clinician classifications.

Fundraising Site: Includes hospital foundation sites, disease/health condition sites, health-cause sites, and any other fundraising initiative related to health or healthcare.

Business/Process Improvement Applications or Products: These initiatives or programs focus on enhancing an organization’s website, such as health content or interactivity functions, or web-based products used to enhance the business processes within an organization. Submission here involves access to demonstrations of the product.

This classification is open to organizations in either division. For example, a hospital or health system, which is in Division I, may have a web-based application that improves the organization’s efficiency. Or a vendor may have a product that is used to improve a website’s functionality, enhance the operations of a healthcare organization, or have a health-related application. In all these situations, the entry should go in this classification.

Agency/Corporate Vendor Site: These sites promote the services and products of companies that support and serve the healthcare industry.

Other Healthcare Sites (special site sections): Sites or sections of sites or initiatives that do not seem to fit in any other classification. A wide range of sites can fall in this classification. Judges evaluate these sites based on the purpose of the site.