HIMSS holds Sixth Annual National Health IT Week

As if trained from our school days, with the coming of fall comes excitement, activity and renewed vigor after the languid hot days of summer.

Washington is much the same, and this fall brings events designed to boost awareness and rally discussion about healthcare IT’s impact on the grand scheme of healthcare reform.

To kick things off, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), along with a large number of industry partners, is hosting the Sixth Annual National Health IT Week, held this year from Sept. 12-16 in Washington, D.C. This popular event always includes briefings with members of Congress, rallies and educational events.

HIMSS officials have said they hope this annual event will continue to help educate the public, the healthcare industry and lawmakers on the value of health IT for the U.S. healthcare system.

If you can’t attend the event, HIMSS is offering “virtual advocacy,” with details forthcoming on the event website prior to the event.
Non-attendees are also encouraged to send letters to Congress promoting health IT or to participate in National Health IT Week events in local areas.

According to HIMSS, nearly 200 public and private sector organizations throughout the nation will participate in the Sixth Annual National Health IT Week.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) said it has worked closely with HIMSS and other stakeholder organizations to promote understanding among state policymakers of the contributions of health IT to healthcare reform.

NCSL is encouraging its members to observe National Health IT Week 2011 “in appropriate ways” in their respective state capitals, as well as in the nation’s capital.

The planners of Healthcare IT Week have said, “Our nation stands on the threshold of dynamic improvements in healthcare. Great advances of health information technology and the possibility of a nationwide exchange of clinical information place true healthcare reform within national reach.”

There is a call from Health IT Week planners to show your support. The event can help you become educated on how Congress is addressing healthcare reform, learn health IT policy issues and priorities, develop effective communication strategies for when meeting with legislators, engage with your members of Congress on health IT policy and be part of the decision-making process.

“One Voice, One Vision,” is the event’s motto, providing a week when, according to HIMSS, you can have “a real impact.”