The University of Maryland School of Nursing's 21st Annual Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics (SINI), held July 20 to 23, 2011, focused on the evolution or revolution that is occurring in healthcare information systems and informatics processes in response to Meaningful Use regulations and increasingly pervasive use of technology in all settings. The co-chairpersons of the SINI Program Committee were Nancy Staggers, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor, and me, Marisa L. Wilson, DNSc, MHSc, RN-BC, assistant professor and director of the master's programs at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. We were pleased to welcome so many friends, colleagues, and alumni to the 21st annual SINI.

To highlight the importance of nursing's contribution to the successful use and changing role of technology at the point of care, chief nurse officers, leaders at the healthcare level, were invited to SINI through participation in a 1-day special educational preconference planned specifically to address gaps in their knowledge. The outcome goal was to prepare a cadre of informed and empowered leaders who can go forward and be full participants in all of the planning that is needed for successful implementation. The nurse leaders attending the preconference were then ushered into the conference and, along with all attendees, were presented with the latest information on health information technology and its role as a catalyst for reform by Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Office of the National Coordinator, keynote speaker. Dr Mostashari was followed by a distinguished panel comprising Patti Brennan, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI; Roy Simpson, RN,C, DPNAP, FAAN; and Nancy Staggers, PhD, RN, FAAN, who presented three perspectives using knowledge management as a framework for envisioning future health information technology, strategic planning, and patient-centered care to optimize the work of nurses in this reformed vision of healthcare.

Plenary speakers, Ed Bennett, director of Web Strategy at the University of Maryland Medical Center; Tamra Minnier, MSN, RN, FACHE, chief quality officer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; and Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, currently a nurse scholar in residence at the Institute of Medicine, offered diverse perspectives on the philosophy, platforms, and quality inherent in both the changing technology and roles of nursing in meaningfully using the information and technology tools we have during a time of reform.

We are delighted to have been able to offer a wealth of information and opportunities for exchange to almost 500 participants; nurse informaticists, executives, educators, and other providers who attended SINI either in person or via Webcast.

In addition to the Nurse Leadership Preconference session, the University of Maryland School of Nursing hosted the "Weekday Immersion in Nursing Informatics-WINI," led by Kathleen Smith, MScEd, RN-BC, FHIMSS; and Carol Bickford, PhD, RN-BC. Fifty nurse informaticists were in attendance at this very popular and informational offering. WINI attracts many new nurse informaticists who attend in order to prepare for a new role or nursing informatics certification.

Concurrent sessions were organized into six tracks, "Web 2.0, Social Networking, and Internet-Based Change," "Technical Innovations for Nurses," "Electronic Health Records and Meaningful Use-A Year in Review," "Organizations and Roles-Supporting the Work of Nurses in Informatics," "Maximizing and Advancing Information Systems Used by Nurses," and "Optimizing Knowledge Management across Disparate Systems." More than 40 presentations were given by invited speakers and selected abstract submitters from which participants could choose to attend. More than 20 posters were presented, with the attendees interacting with the authors in order to obtain additional information. Podium presenters were selected based on the strength and originality of their work.

For those who attended SINI in person, there were opportunities to learn about the history of Baltimore, the University of Maryland School of Nursing, and the simulation laboratories. Many participants took the opportunity to attend the Nursing Informatics Graduate Programs' Information Sessions to learn more about the school of nursing's MS, postmaster's, DNP, and PhD programs that focus on nursing informatics.

This writer, speaking on behalf of my co-chair, would like to express sincere appreciation to all who made this exciting program possible. The presenters, the exhibitors, the staff, the volunteers, the program committee, and the participants brought amazing energy to the 21st Annual SINI. A special thanks goes to the sponsors who enable us to produce an exemplary program, at a reasonable cost, for our participants. We would like to recognize Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Meditech, Siemens Medical Systems, and GE Healthcare for providing opportunity with sponsorship.

We are also very pleased to bring CIN readers the award-winning abstracts from SINI 2011, immediately following this highlights article.

SINI 2012 program planning is underway. There will be some changes to SINI. After 20 years, the Planning Committee is exploring ways the ensure SINI is relevant, cutting edge, and thought provoking. Information on the growing and changing SINI will be available over the year through the University of Maryland School of Nursing Web site, so stay tuned as we work to bring to you 20 more years of even better information.

Real Meaningful Use: Evolution or Revolution? Nursing Informatics Research

Podium and poster presentations in this category describe formal research projects that advance the science of nursing informatics or use informatics methods to advance nursing science.