Coronavirus forces cancellation of HIMSS20

For the very first time in 58 a long time, the HIMSS International Well being Meeting & Exhibition – which was scheduled to take area March nine-thirteen in Orlando, Florida – has been canceled.

HIMSS has been preserving a close eye on the rapid-transforming all over the world coronavirus condition for months, and said the determination to terminate comes in mild of new stories from the Entire world Well being Corporation and Facilities for Illness Handle and Avoidance.

It was resolved that the possible to spread the virus – specially supplied HIMSS’ audience of healthcare experts – was too wonderful.

“We figure out all the difficult work that so quite a few have put into making ready for their displays and panels that accompany every single HIMSS convention,” said Hal Wolf, president and CEO of HIMSS, in a statement.

“Based on analysis of evolving situation and coordination with an exterior advisory panel of professional medical experts to assist evidence-based determination generating, it is distinct that it would be an unacceptable risk to provide so quite a few 1000’s of people collectively in Orlando next 7 days.”

The cancellation was essential to meet HIMSS’ obligation to shield the well being and basic safety of its users across the globe, as well as staff members and regional inhabitants.

Also, the risk to the quite a few healthcare vendors who had been established to go to the convention – so quite a few of whom will be necessary to battling the spread of COVID-19 – was a big problem, supplied their possible displacement during such a vital community well being crisis.

HIMSS20 exhibitors and attendees will be contacted with further information. Attendees can also verify the HIMSS20 Cancellation FAQ page for more specifics. Ongoing updates will be published on HIMSSConference.org.

This story will also be updated.

Health care IT Information is a HIMSS Media publication.