Introduction to "health informatics, healthcare quality and safety, and healthcare simulation: the new triad to advance healthcare operations".

This special themed international issue explores the multiple facets of health informatics, healthcare quality and safety, and healthcare simulation from different parts of the world. The papers in this issue fall into two broad themes. The first theme uses the intersection to address better management of care including physical design layout. The second theme examines innovative uses of the triad to prevent critical and non-critical safety events. The collection of papers culminates with a position paper reporting on the interdependence that is emerging as an important triad for research and practice within medical education, system development and testing, and teamwork and communication and concludes with reducing imprecision and factual errors in handoffs. Findings from the special collection of papers can inform managers and leaders on advancing operations in healthcare settings.