HIMSS To Launch Massive Healthcare IT Statistics Database; HIMSS Solutions Toolkit First Service Of Its Kind In The Industry

1/29/2002

From: Tarsis Lopez of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, 312-915-9237

CHICAGO, Jan. 29 -- The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) announced today the impending launch of the HIMSS Solutions Toolkit, a service the Society believes will change the way healthcare information professionals make strategic decisions for their organizations.

The toolkit, which will launch in June 2002, will provide industry leaders with innovative tools to gather tactical information about healthcare IT vendors, consultants, and providers working in every part of the healthcare industry. To meet this challenge, HIMSS has initially partnered with The American Hospital Association (AHA)/Health Forum, Dorenfest and Associates, Gartner Inc., KLAS, and Solucient, who will each provide data for the service. Other partners may be involved as the toolkit moves forward.

"For over 40 years, HIMSS has prided itself as a trusted source for healthcare professionals engaged in or affected by information and management systems," said H. Stephen Lieber, HIMSS President/CEO. "With the launch of the HIMSS Solutions Toolkit, I am confident that we will significantly enhance our ability to provide crucial knowledge for our industry."

The Solutions Toolkit will launch in multiple phases. Phase 1 will go live in early June 2002 and feature four unique categories:

-- A searchable, comprehensive listing of product profiles from top healthcare IT vendors, along with comparison reports of the products -- Specifically, these reports will address four primary applications critical to healthcare administration and patient care -- the clinical system, the physician's practice management system, the materials management and supply chain system, and the revenue cycle and billing system.

-- Information systems department operating statistics and demographics reports based upon data from numerous healthcare facilities -- Users can search IT department costs and salaries by geographic region, IT department costs by provider size, salary averages and staff ratios by provider size, or create their own operations statistics report.

-- Provider application profile reports that indicate where vendor products are being installed in provider facilities, and

-- Peer reviewed ratings of vendor product performance across the healthcare continuum -- Users can view comprehensive information on the top three IT vendors in their respective healthcare areas; search peer reviewed ratings of the top three vendors; or create their own peer review report.

Future phases of this project will add new tools to the toolkit, including the ability to create electronic RFPs and ROI analysis. All information included in the Toolkit will be updated regularly by HIMSS.

"As a CIO working in a provider organization, I believe the need for this type of service is immeasurable," said Greg Walton, FHIMSS, chair of the HIMSS Board of Directors. "I am confident the HIMSS Solutions Toolkit will transform the way healthcare IT information is gathered and distributed."

The services available through the Solutions Toolkit will be accessible to users in several ways.

Each category will feature several free top-level reports. Samples of purchasable reports will also be available. Users seeking more detailed information on a particular topic can purchase reports following a predetermined fee structure. A temporary license can also be purchased by users allowing them to combine data elements in the toolkit and create personalized reports. In addition, HIMSS members will be able to access some reports at no charge.

--- MEDIA NOTE: To arrange an interview with H. Stephen Lieber, HIMSS president/CIO, regarding the HIMSS Solutions Toolkit, please contact Tarsis Lopez at 312-915-9237, tlopez@himss.org.

------ About the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS): The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) provides leadership in healthcare for the management of technology, information, and change through member services, education and networking opportunities, and publications. Members are kept abreast of the latest industry information and research, as well as legislative and policy issues. Based in Chicago with an office in Ann Arbor, Mich, HIMSS has 37 chapters and more than 12,000 individual members working in healthcare organizations throughout the world. Individual members include healthcare professionals in hospitals, corporate healthcare systems, clinical practice groups, HIT supplier organizations, healthcare consulting firms, and government settings in professional levels ranging from senior staff to CIOs and CEOs. HIMSS also serves corporate members, which include suppliers and consultants in the health information and management systems industry. HIMSS' Web site is www.himss.org.