Top innovative health-care companies

Fast Company magazine came out with its list of the top 10 most innovative health-care companies in 2011. Here’s who made the cut.

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No. 1: Epocrates

Fast Company named Epocrates Inc. the No.1 heath-care company for “creating software that gives doctors and nurses instant information on drug-to-drug interactions, treatment recommendations and more on their mobile devices or laptops.” Pictured here, a doctor makes a note of prescription information on his mobile device using software by Epocrates.

Mark Strathdee / Epocrates Inc. Via Bloomberg

No. 2: SynCardia Systems

SynCardia Systems of Tucson, Ariz., was named the No. 2 most innovative health care company. SynCardia Systems creates completely artificial hearts.

Jeff Topping / Getty Images

No. 3: Voxiva

Voxiva's Text4Baby system earned it the No. 3 spot on the list. Text4Baby is a mobile education program that sends important health information to the phones of pregnant mothers. They have recently launched a similar program for smokers called Text2Quit.

/ Courtesy of Voxiva

No. 4: Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic made it to the No. 4 spot for “rethinking the entire hospital experience.” Complaints at the hospital fell 40 percent from 2009 to 2010, according to the ranking.

Mark Duncan / AP

No. 5: SafePoint

SafePoint took the No. 5 spot for providing low-cost one-use syringes to combat a growing global health care issue: the unsafe reuse of syringes.

/ Courtesy of SafePoint

No. 6: Envoy Medical

Envoy Medical's Esteem, a surgically implanted hearing restoration device, earned it the No. 6 spot on the list.

/ Courtesy of Envoy Medical

No. 7: General Electric

General Electric earned the No. 7 spot for Vscan, an iPod-size ultrasound machine that provides an instant visual image of a patient’s insides. Pictured here, John Dineen, CEO of GE's health care unit, introduces the Vscan on May 17 in Beijing.

/ ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

No. 8: PharmaSecure

PharmaSecure has developed technology to verify the authenticity of drugs in an effort to combat counterfeit medications, earning it the No. 8 spot on the list. Consumers can text a code on a drug package to the company, which will then confirm the drug's authenticity.

/ Courtesy of PharmaSecure

No. 9: Neurovigil

Neurovigil's iBrain headband records brainwave data while the user sleeps. The data can be used to monitor sleep activity, which could help researchers identify disease patterns, earning the company the No. 9 spot on the list.

/ Courtesty of Neurovigil

No: 10: Second Sight Medical Products

Second Sight Medical Products rounds out the list at No. 10 for its retinal-implant technology. FDA approval for the technology is pending.

/ Courtesy of Second Sight Medical Products

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 25: Naomi Haskell poses for a portrait with her son, Spencer, 19, at her home in suburban Houston, Texas, on Thursday, April 25, 2013. Since he was diagnosed with a type of schizophrenia two years ago, her focus has been on keeping him well. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

A mom and her son face the challenge of mental illness

Naomi Haskell helps her son Spencer deal with the challenges presented by his schizophrenia. She spends her days torn between worry and hope...

ANNAPOLIS MD: MAY 24
The Class of 2013 culminates their commissioning ceremony with the hat toss, a traditional ending to the ceremony, originated at the Naval Academy in 1912. The 'hat toss' has since become a symbolic and visual end to the four-year program. Photographed at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland on May 24, 2013.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

They tossed their caps in Annapolis

The 2013 Class of the U.S. Naval Academy holds its graduation and commissioning ceremonies. President Obama spoke at the graduation.

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 19: Mark Melancon #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros during the game on May 19, 2013 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pirates defeated the Astros 1-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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epa03714567 A Thai Buddhist family take an offering of lotus flowers to pay respects to a giant Buddha surrounded by more than 1,000 smaller Buddha statues at a Buddhism Park, on Vesak or Visakha Bucha day, in Nakhon Nayok, north of Bangkok, Thailand, 24 May 2013. Buddhist devotees throughout the world offer blessings at temples to mark one of the holiest days in Buddhism, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and the death of Buddha. EPA/BARBARA WALTON

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SILVER SPRING MD: MAY 18
from left to right, Bodybuilders Jorge Villatoro, Sidney Bumbrey, Eric Holmes and Ron Coleman show off their most muscular poses for the judges at the 2013 Musclemania - Capital Tournament of Champions Contest held at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 18, 2013.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Flexing their muscles

Dozens of bodybuilders came out to Silver Spring to compete in the 2013 Musclemania Capital Tournament of Champions.

epa03714543 US actress Carmen Electra arrives for the Life Ball gala, at the airport Schwechat, in Vienna, Austria, 24 May 2013. The 21th Life Ball, an annual fundraising charity event for HIV and Aids projects, takes place at the Vienna City-Hall on 25 May 2013. EPA/HERBERT NEUBAUER

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Assessing tornado damage in Oklahoma

Amid great destruction, residents of the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore begin to assess the severity of the twister that hit Monday.

WASHINGTON DC: MAY 22
Contestant Travis Rumans, 31 dances with his beloved glow sticks for talent at Penn Social in Washington, DC on May 22, 2013. The contestants help raise over $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
The Mr. DC pageant is a fundraising event to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The qualifications for the Mr. District of Columbia finalists is that they must live, work and attend school in the District of Columbia between the ages of 21-30 who are unmarried, intelligent, and dapper in a suit.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Mr. D.C. Pageant contestants compete for charity

Contestants in the Mr. D.C. Pageant, a fundraising event, helped raise more than $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center.

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