Nashville Medical Trade Center Alliance with HIMSS

Market Center Management Company, the management company of leading trade centers and trade events around the world, today announced an alliance with HIMSS, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. HIMSS is the largest U.S. healthcare association focused on information technology.
The alliance includes an agreement for space inside the Nashville Medical Trade Center, exclusive education partnership programming, creation of new trade events, and broad-based opportunities to showcase HIMSS partners.

“We are thrilled to announce a sustained alliance with a leading global healthcare organization,” says Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Market Center Management Company. “The HIMSS mission to provide global leadership for healthcare information technology complements our efforts to create the complete marketplace for healthcare ideas and innovation. 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.”

HIMSS will establish a flexible, permanent home for the HIMSS Interoperability Showcase on the premier healthcare information technology (HIT) floor of the Nashville Medical Trade Center. The Showcase is a state-of-the-art, interactive demonstration showing how health IT applications share patient data across a range of healthcare settings. More than 70 clinical information systems were presented in the most recent temporary 2010 Interoperability Showcase. The new showcase in Nashville will augment the successful annual HIMSS Conference and Exhibition.

“A permanent, year-round destination for HIT activity and innovation would only be possible inside this groundbreaking marketplace,” says H. Stephen Lieber, president and CEO, HIMSS. “By joining the trade center are we 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 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.

"I believe this announcement by the Nashville Medical Trade Center and HIMSS will be seen as a defining moment in the movement to drive efficiency in the healthcare system through interoperability and data sharing," says Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. "As a long-time advocate for e-health, I'm sure the presence of HIMSS in Nashville, which is well recognized as one of the country's leading healthcare communities, will go a long way toward fostering innovation."

“There is no better home for a permanent showcase than in the Silicon Valley of healthcare and no more dynamic a location than the medical trade center,” says Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. “On behalf of the more than 300 healthcare companies in this area, we welcome HIMSS to Nashville.”

“This announcement shows the healthcare industry truly understands the value of a one-stop procurement market for health information technology, equipment and software,” says Commissioner Matt Kisber, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “HIMSS’s presence at the Nashville Medical Trade Center makes this project a world showcase for the latest trends in medical care.”

The Nashville Medical Trade Center, opening in early 2013, is an innovative healthcare marketplace that unifies for the first time permanent showrooms, temporary exhibition space, and education and training facilities. The result is 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 manufacturer 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.