The health care industry has gone through some painful changes, and indeed is still having to transform rapidly to accommodate new technology, increasing numbers of aging patients needing continuing care, and a highly litigious climate that hangs over the medical community, where medical malpractice lawsuits threaten to destroy careers. Some organizations have cracked under the pressure, and some have risen to the top as leaders, visionaries and innovators in a difficult period. The organizations, websites, blogs, and companies below are doing good work, and we’re excited to watch them grow throughout the next year and beyond.

Hospitals and clinics have a lot of challenges to keep up with, from maintaining a skilled and licensed staff to keeping detailed private medical records in both digital and analog formats, processing insurance claims, and many other business and administrative tasks not directly related to providing medical treatment. The best of the best hospitals and clinics cannot only hold steady, but continue improving their business practices without sacrificing the quality of treatment and information delivered to clients.

Affinity Health System Blog Affinity is a regional integrated health care delivery system focused on community-based accessible care. Their blog, focused on Wisconsin clients, offers information on healthy meals, setting health goals, and seasonal health and wellness issues. Learn More – Stay Active in Cold Weather

Free Clinics Today AmeriCares offers a much-needed free clinic resource for managers, volunteers, and other interested parties. They provide information on how to manage a clinic, get donations and volunteers, and generate events that can engage a community. They also offer a section for patients to find free clinics in their neighborhoods. Learn More – Clinic Staff: How To Guides

MCC Medical Clinic The Muslim Community Center (MCC) Medical Clinic serves the uninsured, indigent adult residents of that community regardless of race, religion, ehtnicity, or national origin. They offer a pharmacy, radiology, a lab, and a volunteer staff that speaks English, Spanish, Arabic, and seven other languages. Learn More – Services

Weiss Memorial Hospital Health for Life Blog The Weiss Memorial Hospital Health for Life blog was started in 2010 to serve as a more direct and personal means of communication between the people at Weiss and the community at large that the hospital serves Learn More – Robotics Event Introduces the Future of Medicine to Chicago Physicians

Longevity Medical Clinic Longevity Medical Clinic is a membership based health care provider that specializes in using bio-marker measurement and other data to analyze and slow the progress of negative effects of aging. Learn More – High Intensity Exercise vs. Aerobic Exercise

Overlake Medical Center Women’s & Infants’ Blog Overlake Medical Center, located in the Puget Sound Region, offers a constantly updated blog about women and their infants. Although this information is used to support this center’s childbirth classes and support groups, the material is useful for any mother-to-be. Learn More – Welcoming baby softly with skin to skin care

Seattle Mama Doc Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson is a mom and a pediatrician. She offers her insights from both perspectives in this Seattle Children’s Hospital blog about issues surrounding the ideal of effective parenting. Learn More – Why No TV Before Bed is Better

Wisconsin Wellness Clinic Dr. Nicole Knapp, DC, and Lisa McNeil, LMT, FST, provide plenty of health and wellness ideas through this blog for their Wisconsin clinic. A healthy dose of humor along with easy-to-accomplish health tips support their chiropractic and neuromuscular therapy work. Learn More – 21 Habits of Happy People

BayCare Clinic’s Blog Bay Care Clinic is a physician-owned specialty care clinic located in northeast Wisconsin and in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Their blog is focused on health and wellness, with special attention to preventive care, heart health, surgical procedures, and pain management. Learn More – A Cool New Treatment

Vis medicatrix naturae: Natural Health Realized Dr. Molly Niedermeyer (Linton), ND, LM, offers an interesting blog that focuses on health, but also advocates for natural health politically and medically. Readers can learn about her Emerald City Clinic as well as local workshops, classes, and information about common maladies and no-so-common ideas about traditional treatments. Learn More – Time of day makes a difference in thyroid testing

Hope Medical Clinic Hope Medical Clinic is a volunteer- and donor-driven establishment realized to help meet the needs of medically underserved populations in Okaloosa and Walton Counties in Florida. While some clinics are similar, this clinic has raised an astounding $949,364.35 since 2009, with $482,200 free physican services provided, too. Learn More – Becoming a Patient

Fort Health Care Fort Health Care in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, works to create a healthy community at home and at the workplace through preventive medicine. They hold classes and seminars and offer free screenings, health challenges and more to engage the residents in their town. Learn More – Health in the Workplace

Carilion Clinic Blog Fort Carilion Clinic, located in Roanoke, Virginia, is a non-profit organization that offers a network of hospitals, primary and specialty physician practices, and other complementary services. Their mission is to improve the community’s health through preventive measures by holding regular events such as blood pressure and blood sugar screenings and infant CPR and safety programs. Learn More – Health and Wellness Calendar

Kartini Eating Disorder Blog You don’t need to live near Kartini Clinic to learn more about eating disorders. Readers can find plenty of information on this blog to learn all about anorexia, bulimia, eating disorder treatment, and other eating issues. Kartini Clini also offers resources for individuals and family members affected by these disorders. Learn More – Exercise and the Severely Anorexic Patient

Barnes Jewish Hospital Blog The Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, offers a blog that features patient stories, medical news, event announcements, and innovations that might intrigue readers. They hope to engage their community in health issues to maintain a dynamic health care environment. Learn More – Medical diagnosis makes sports headlines

Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital Blog It’s rare to find an active naval hospital blog, but this one is filled with current information about the hospital and the community it serves. Located at Tentynine Palms, California, the blog writers offer seasonal health advice as well as news about major accomplishments and acquisitions. Learn More – Summer Heat and Your Meds — What’s The Link?

Holy Cross Hospital Blogs Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, keeps its community apprised of news in every service line they offer. Each week, physicians and/or staff members supply news, knowledge, opinions, and encouragement about heart health, cancer, research, and orthopedics. Learn More – A hard way to learn an important fact

North Hills Hospital Blog North Hills Hospital in Texas was the first hospital in that state to achieve all three levels of Chest Pain Accreditation, and they were the first Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery in Tarrant County. The accolades could go on, but their main mission is to serve the community — and this blog is one method of outreach in topics that range from diabetes to weight loss. Learn More – Five Healthy Living Tips for Seniors

Craig Hospital Blog While some hospitals try to be all things to all people, Craig Hospital’s blog focuses solely on people with spinal cord and brain injuries. Their blog is designed to educate, support, encourage, and update both casual readers and their patients. Learn More – Research Study Opportunity for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury

Memorial Hospital Blog Memorial Hospital in Fremont, Ohio, may have opened its doors in 1918, but today this hospital shows a very modern face with a blog that features health news and tips and information about the hospital’s state-of-the-art facility and staff. Learn More – Surgery in Fremont: A day in the life at Memorial Hospital

Hruska Clinic Blog Hruska Clinic offers restorative physical therapy services to its community in Lincoln, Nebraska. They use their blog to impart information about their services, including general news in this special service. The site also contains information about success stories and the clinic’s great efforts at community outreach. Learn More – Looking at the Clouds – Dave’s new blog talks about living in our “close-up” world…

C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital Blog Entitled, “Hail to the Little Victors Blog,” this offering from the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital provides a large community of readers with news and information about patients and services. Parents can enjoy articles like “An Interview with the Sugar Plum Fairy,” but they also can learn from articles that show parents how to talk to children about tragic events. Learn More – Five things parents should know about the flu

Thriving Thriving, the pediatric health blog provided by Boston Children’s Hospital, has been around longer than most hospital blogs. Their trusted information as well as their outreach is appreciated by parents who need the reassurance, help, and special attention that this hospital staff shows to its local and regional community. Learn More – Our patients’ stories: Treating Haven’s pulmonary atresia

Akron Children’s Hospital Inside Children’s Blog Akron Children’s Hospital provides an active blog that focuses on work at the hospital, patient stories, “mom bloggers,” volunteer stories, hospital news, and health and parenting. This is a true family health blog… after reading a few stories, you might feel that the hospital staff has become part of your family. Learn More – Kings of the mountain: 3 hospital employees bring expertise and compassion to the slopes

Country Chiropractic Clinic Avery Martin, A. Nicholas Martin, and A. Nathaniel Martin offer combined expertise and knowledge about their chiropractic services and general health through this informative blog. Read about preventive health measures, patient testimonies, and answers to commonly asked questions about physical complaints. Learn More – Health On Hold

Watson Clinic Blog The Watson Clinic provides comprehensive medical services to the Lakeland, Florida community. Speaking Spanish and English, this clinic provides outstanding services as well as a blog that speaks to physical health, emotional issues, and health news. Learn More – Fit and Fabulous at 40

University of Florida Student Health Care Center Blog If a college offers a health blog, wouldn’t that make you feel better about attending or having your kids attend that school? The University of Florida offers a great blog that speaks to students about current health issues as well as reality checks. Learn More – FAQs: Getting in, getting out and getting on with your life

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Blog Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center also offers a blog for students, with a leaning toward preventive care and student engagement online and on campus. Their new “P4 Wellcare Assessment” features medicine and care that is predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory. Learn More – Video Game Provides Balance Testing for Concussions

National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics Blog NAFC is the only non-profit organization whose sole mission is focused on the issues and requirements of more than 1,200 free and charitable clinics throughout the U.S. NAFC serves as an advocate for the clinics’ and volunteers’ concerns in Washington, and provides research, education, and resources for member organizations and their communities. Learn More – Health Care Issues

People’s Health Clinic Blog This clinic’s blog reflects its services to the Park City, Utah community. The People’s Health Clinic serves a need for low-cost health services, and it offers outreach about its mission and services through informative and engaging articles. Learn More – What access to affordable healthcare has meant to one Summit County resident

Shepherd’s Care Medical Clinic Shepherds Care Medical Clinic in Zebulon, North Carolina, provides a site that is helpful to patients and community. The site offers basic information as well as community news, updates, requirements for the clinic and helpful guides for prospective patients. Learn More – Clinic Staff: How To Guides

The Refuge Clinic This clinic, with two locations in Kentucky, was conceived from a need to fund medical and dental care to uninsured populations in Jessamine and Fayette Counties. Since the clinics opened in 2008, they have served over 2,800 uninsured residents in those counties through the support of Refuge Ministries. Learn More – Clinic Staff: How To Guides

The Center for Healthcare Value Blog The Center for Healthcare Value is all about creating a healthcare marketplace that rewards providers for delivering value. This revamping of the health care facility includes using “lean healthcare,” teaching transformation leadership, and sharing collective knowledge and insights to provide new and better ways to care for patients while eliminating waste and errors. Learn More – What Value Really Means

Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health Blog Kaiser Permanente is a premier health care provider, offering quality health services and community involvement to neighborhoods throughout the country. Their blog is focused on a commitment to quality, including how they impart information about preventive health, news, and events within their communities and beyond. Learn More – Food Banks Look to Offer More Nutritious Food

Cleveland Clinic Heart Blog Although the Cleveland Clinic offers more than heart health services, their new blog is focused solely on how to get, maintain, and keep a healthy heart through exercise and diet. They also talk about various heart treatments and surgeries, cutting through the medical jargon to offer straight talk on some life-saving issues. Learn More – Atrial Fibrillation – Dispelling 6 Myths

Jonathan Treasure Jonathan Treasure’s philosophy is to educate, rather than prescribe. He is versed in herbal remedies, cancer, and herb-drug interactions. His clinic’s blog mostly offers information about the clinic’s operations; but, patients and prospective clients and physicians can read more information about his treatments on his accompanying website. Learn More – Taming the Email Monster – Enter the Clinic Help Desk

Morningside Hospital Blog Morningside Hospital in Alaska is a former mental health institution with quite a tale to tell. Volunteers use this blog to impart information about the hospital’s history, including information about prior staff members, medical practices, and a story about a America’s dark treatment of its “unusual” citizens. Learn More – One-Eyed Shaw Creek Tony

Pardee Hospital Blog Founded in 1953, Pardee Hospital is a not-for-profit community hospital and the first and only hospital in North Carolina to be accredited with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for quality health care standards. The blog reflects Pardee’s community engagement, with updates about health care at the facility as well as news about activities for the area. Learn More – Reduce Stress, Sleep More, Lose Weight

The Kindred Continuum The Kindred Continuum, a service from Kindred Healthcare, is focused on the clinical and managerial side of long-term acute care. Kindred Healthcare is the largest diversified provider of these services in the U.S., and was named a Fortune Magazine “most admired company” four years in a row. Learn More – Planning a Valentine’s Day Visit to a Loved One

Northwest Memorial Hospital Blog Northwestern Memorial Hospital, an academic medical center hospital located in Chicago, offers a blog that features medical news, innovative research information, and perspectives on healthcare-related issues. The blog is not as stuffy as it might sound…if you’re interested in maintaining your health, you might find a topic here that will appeal to you. Learn More – Small changes you can make to be more heart healthy

Botsford Hospital Blog Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan, brings news, helpful health tips, and wellness ideas to its community through this blog. From Alzheimer’s Disease to technology and treatment, this hospital isn’t afraid to share its philosophies and engage its neighbors in healthy conversation. Learn More – Botsford Hospital recognized for social media

Brigham City Community Hospital Blog Brigham City Community Hospital in Utah is a small community hospital that prides itself on being part of its community as well as providing high-quality services to their patients and families. Their blog, which is fairly new, offers general health tips on topics that range from cancer care to women’s health, offering preventive ideas for a healthy town. Learn More – Is Voting Healthy?

Cincinnati Children’s Blog Cincinnati Children’s Hospital blog is an exciting adventure into global health care. From articles about trips to India to help children with severe scoliosis to heart-to-heart talks from moms who have children with cancer, there’s plenty of stories on this blog to engage readers. Learn More – The Power of a Story

Cooper University Hospital Blog: Inside Cooper Cooper University Hospital is well known to residents in southern New Jersey and throughout the Delaware Valley. This hospital is the leading provider of comprehensive health services, medical education, and clinical research in that area. Their blog is an exciting news format that shares achievements, news, and relevant medical innovations at Cooper and beyond. Learn More – Cooper Faculty Travel to Guatemala to Provide Free Medical Care to Women and Children

GlassHospital Blog John Henning Schumann, a general internist and medical educator at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine in Tulsa, created and hosts this blog that focuses on medical practice transparency, aspects of caregiving, and the demystification of medicine. The ultimate goal? To help patients have better experiences in a hospital or medical practice environment. Learn More – Aspiversary

Sherman Health Blog Sherman Health in Elgin, Illinois, provides a tips and news on their blog that can help any reader learn how to have a healthier lifestyle. Learn more about nutrition, breast care, and other health topics here, including a day-by-day heart health care plan. Learn More – 4 letters that will help you identify a stroke victim