Microsoft and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) have announced the availability of the Microsoft Health Users Group (Microsoft HUG) across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

It will provide healthcare organizations and partners with an online venue to facilitate the development of healthcare solutions and demonstrate how technology can help solve healthcare challenges.

The announcement was made at the World of Health IT Conference and Exhibition in Copenhagen.

Microsoft HUG's innovative forum is designed as a venue for partners and developers of healthcare technology solutions to collaborate on aspects of solutions built on Microsoft platforms; to discover new uses for existing technology, development support, collaboration and networking with peers; and to discuss needs and desires arising from the current use of healthcare IT.

After several successful years of collaboration on the current forum, Microsoft HUG's diverse membership currently comprises more than 5000 members and 31 corporate supporters across North America, and is unified by a shared interest in implementing vendor- and user-developed software based on Microsoft technology to improve healthcare quality and efficiency, while reducing complexity and cost.

"Extending Microsoft HUG to the EMEA healthcare community provides an expanded forum for sharing best practices and learnings from our own experience as well as those of our customers and partners," said Tim Smokoff, general manager of worldwide health at Microsoft. "This collaboration enables the ecosystem to strengthen itself. Partners can further support their businesses, customers can improve their services, and both achieve a stronger return on their investments by learning from others facing similar challenges - all while working toward the goal of improving health costs, quality and access for citizens."

H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, president and chief executive officer, HIMSS, said, "Managing Microsoft HUG enables us to further promote our mission to lead change in the healthcare information and management systems field through knowledge sharing, advocacy, collaboration, innovation and community affiliation. Ultimately our goal is to drive better patient care, and this is another step in that direction."

The Microsoft HUG EMEA community, hosted within the existing Microsoft HUG site (http://www.mshug.org), will give members access to a resource that connects solutions, experts and peers to a wider sphere of influence and education.

Members receive the following benefits:
 

• Access to the latest solutions and technology from leading minds at Microsoft and independent industry experts;
• A forum for voicing opinions, learning from peers and helping shape the future of healthcare IT;
• Opportunities to network with professionals who can enhance careers;
• Online interaction to help professionals connect with others.

With the launch of the EMEA community, Microsoft and HIMSS believe they will be able to strengthen their commitment to better serve the industry through a shared strategic vision - to provide industry leadership, drive appropriate standards and develop associated requirements in support of healthcare solutions.