Medical Device Link.

Originally Published MX September/October 2004

SPECIAL REPORT: IT IN HEALTHCARE

Founded in 1961, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a professional association of information systems professionals who work in the healthcare area. Established long before the computer age began to impinge on healthcare, HIMSS prides itself on being the only national organization devoted to information and management systems in this specialized field.

The 14,000 individual members of the association are people who design, operate, and maintain the IT systems that healthcare providers must have. For these members, the organization offers certification of competency in the field.

HIMSS also includes 220 corporate members, which all together employ more than 1 million people. These corporate members—predominantly hospital groups and independent healthcare sites—have great buying power, controlling budgets averaging in the millions of dollars.

HIMSS actively reaches out to vendors that supply healthcare information systems. The organization's Web site offers marketing opportunities, and suggests ways such vendors can partner with HIMSS to reach possible customers through exhibitions, advertising, and sponsorship activities. The HIMSS board includes both ends of the technology marketplace—both the suppliers and end-users of healthcare IT systems.

The HIMSS Web site is located at www.himss.org.

Copyright ©2004 MX