Chicago-based HIMSS – the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society – will take an anchor spot in the new Nashville Medical Trade Center, which is being billed as "a global headquarters for healthcare events."


The center is slated to open in early 2013.

HIMSS announced Wednesday that it would establish a home for the HIMSS Interoperability Showcase on the healthcare information technology floor of the trade center. The showcase is an interactive demonstration showing how health IT applications share patient data across a range of healthcare settings.

"It's a great opportunity for us to take something we can do only once a year, and do it year-round," said H. Stephen Lieber, president and CEO of HIMSS. "The concept here is that it gives us the ability to reach an audience we wouldn't ordinarily reach." 

Lieber, who called the decision "a cornerstone," envisions small regional interoperability showcases around the country and around the world.

More than 70 clinical information systems were presented in the most recent temporary 2010 Interoperability Showcase at HIMSS10 in Atlanta. The new showcase in Nashville will augment the successful annual HIMSS Conference and Exhibition, Lieber said.

Health IT destination
"A permanent, year-round destination for HIT activity and innovation would only be possible inside this groundbreaking marketplace," Lieber said. "By joining the trade center we are able to reach more participants, demonstrate meaningful use more completely and offer more flexibility than ever before."



In addition to space in the trade center, the alliance between HIMSS and the medical mart creates a comprehensive framework of activities including the following:

• HIMSS is awarded exclusive management of online and offline continuing education of HIT;
• HIMSS will offer trade center-based educational events, exhibitions and special activities, the first of which to coincide with the grand opening of the trade center in 2013;
• HIMSS will expand its reach of continuing education by linking its CEU services with other healthcare associations and trade events conducted within the trade center; and
• HIMSS has the opportunity to showcase its other programs within the trade center including HIMSS Analytics and the HIMSS Medical Banking Project.

"The HIMSS mission to provide global leadership for healthcare information technology complements our efforts to create the complete marketplace for healthcare ideas and innovation," said Bill Winsor, president and CEO of Market Center Management Company, which manages trade centers and trade events around the world. "A permanent showcase will capitalize on the significant investment of time and expertise of organizations and companies participating in the HIMSS Interoperability Showcase and other events."

The HIMSS allure

With HIMSS as committed anchor, Winsor said he and his team would now work their target list of prospects that include well known healthcare companies – not only in information technology, but also hospital furniture, diagnostics and imaging, for example.

He expects they will be eager to sign up because HIMSS, a well known healthcare leader, creates a following.

"HIMSS's presence at the Nashville Medical Trade Center makes this project a world showcase for the latest trends in medical care," said Commissioner Matt Kisber, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Winsor estimates the trade center will accommodate 300-350 companies when completely occupied.

The developers describe the Nashville Medical Center as a marketplace that unifies for the first time permanent showrooms, temporary exhibition space, and education and training facilities – a comprehensive global marketplace for healthcare products, solutions and services.

The 1.5 million square trade center will feature three components: more than 600 permanent showrooms for healthcare product manufacturers, distributors and information technology companies; more than 150,000 square feet of temporary trade show space; and state-of-the-art conference facilities to accommodate a full annual calendar of trade events, education and training.

Lieber said, HIMSS position as anchor tenant at the Nashville Medical Center would not change its approach to the HIMSS annual conference and exhibition as neither the center or Nashville could accommodate the scope of the annual event that draws more than 25,000 attendees that arrive and leave at the about the same time.