Electronic Health Reporter

CLEVELAND (October 8, 2013) – Today, HIMSS, the global, cause-based, not-for-profit organization focused on better health through IT, announced the opening of the HIMSS Innovation Center as part of the Global Center for Health Innovation, in downtown Cleveland. The 30,000-square-foot Innovation Center includes a Health IT Simulation Center testing health IT interoperability, and a Healthcare Technology Showcase demonstrating the value of IT and information exchange to patient care, clinician and patient satisfaction, population health, and the bottom line.  HIMSS WorldWide President and CEO H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, was among the speakers at the ribbon cutting event held at 2 p.m. at the Global Center for Health Innovation, which displays the future of health and healthcare drawing international visitors to the space.

“The HIMSS Innovation Center is a milestone in our mission to improve health through the best use of information technology.  As a permanent facility capable of hosting virtual and in-person experiences, clinicians, health professionals, consumers, and policy-makers can see how the secure and appropriate exchange of health information improves the outcomes, safety, cost-effectiveness, and access to care. It is aninteractivesetting where, with our collaborators, HIMSS enables testing of interoperable IT products, and provides knowledge and firsthand demonstrations of the value of health IT for patient care,” says Carla Smith, MA, CNM, FHIMSS, Executive Vice President, HIMSS.

Visitors to the HIMSS Innovation Center can take part in an interactive learning experience where they can:

• Learn about innovative IT products and services that can positively transform the quality, safety, cost-effectiveness, and access to care;
• Simulate clinical scenarios in which health information is securely and appropriately shared and how health information technologies can improve patient care; and
• Participate in state-of-the art use of IT in health and healthcare practices.

The Health IT Simulation Center is a fully operational, multi-care environment populated with simulated patient demographic, clinical and financial data. By being either physically in the Innovation Center or virtually through the cloud, members of the health and healthcare communities can interact in real-time to both test and demonstrate scenarios that elicit a specific product’s interoperability and other capabilities to improve quality and patient outcomes, cost-effective care coordination, secure data exchange and better business performance.

Within the Healthcare Technology Showcase, stakeholders view rolling exhibitions on information exchange, mobile health, consumer-driven health, and more. The year-round exhibition space will further validate functionality for new and emerging products using standards and customized testing in both a physical and virtual demonstration environment.

HIMSS Collaborators play a key role at the Innovation Center with their health IT solutions in place as ongoing demonstrations for healthcare providers to review and test products for their respective hospitals and clinical practices.  This side-by-side comparison provides a unique and beneficial option for providers ready to invest in and upgrade health IT systems for use in their organizations.

Supporting the value and benefits IT brings to patient care, the HIMSS Innovation Center Charter Collaborators are: Alego Health, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, Fujitsu, IHE USA, ICSA Labs, Total Voice Technologies, Cardinal Health, Juniper Networks, and Concur.

“Alego Health is very excited to be a part of the HIMSS Innovation Center. We believe that the Global Center of Health Innovation will bring a great spotlight to some of the innovations and services that many great companies & healthcare organizations are developing in the healthcare IT space.” says Jonathan Levoy, VP of Alego Health.  “Alego’s participation with HIMSS as a Founding Collaborator in the HIMSS Innovation Center marks our commitment to developing services that will benefit our current clients and future clients in creating better outcomes & interactions for their patients.  Our belief is that we can showcase our services to the visitors that come through the HIMSS Innovation Center and also use the collaborative environment that HIMSS has designed to become a stronger partner for our clients and potential clients”

“Connected health is about creating exciting and innovative ways to improve the delivery of health services. Developments, such as cloud services, high-bandwidth media, electronic medical records, and online collaboration, would not be possible without a secure, reliable, high-performance network. We are delighted to showcase how Juniper Networks’ innovative technology is helping community hospitals and the country’s largest health systems transform patient care,” says Ryan Witt, Global Managing Director – Health and Life Sciences, Juniper Networks.

The HIMSS Innovation Center offers educational programming including interoperability simulations and virtual demonstrations, joint educational efforts produced with other organizations in the Global Center, and opportunities for health and healthcare sector learners and conferences housed in the adjacent Cleveland Convention Center. HIMSS is also participating in the Global Center’s patient home of the future, providing examples of current and forward-looking mobile health technologies for patients. HIMSS estimates approximately 100,000 visitors will come through the Innovation Center annually.

Cuyahoga County and Merchandise Mart Properties hosted the Oct. 8 ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Global Center for Health Innovation followed by a reception and guided tours for approximately 600 attendees.

Visit the HIMSS Innovation Center on the 4th floor of the Global Center for Health Innovation in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Go towww.himssinnovationcenter.org for more information.

About HIMSS

HIMSS is a global, cause-based, not-for-profit organization focused on better health through information technology (IT). HIMSS leads efforts to optimize health engagements and care outcomes using information technology.

HIMSS is a part of HIMSS WorldWide, a cause-based, global enterprise producing health IT thought leadership, education, events, market research and media services around the world. Founded in 1961, HIMSS WorldWide encompasses more than 52,000 individuals, of which more than two-thirds work in healthcare provider, governmental and not-for-profit organizations across the globe, plus over 600 corporations and 250 not-for-profit partner organizations, that share this cause.  HIMSS WorldWide, headquartered in Chicago, serves the global health IT community with additional offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia.