The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society closed its 2011 annual convention in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday drawing a record-breaking 31,225 attendees, the Chicago-based trade group announced.
Overall, final attendance for the 2011 show, which officially opened its four-day run Monday, was up 7% from the previous record of 29,100 set in Orlando in 2008. Attendance was up 12% over last year's show in Atlanta, which drew 27,777.
Provider attendance was buoyed by federal programs to incentivize providers that purchase and meaningfully use electronic health records systems, according to Stephen Lieber, HIMSS president and CEO. The group also reported a 7% increase in “professional” registrants to 14,639, compared with 13,672 last year.
There were 1,043 companies registered for the show this year, up from about 935 last year, according to Lieber.
“To me, the really interesting stat is on the companies, and not the total, but 312 exhibiting for the first time,” Lieber said. “We usually have about 150 of that kind.
“Meaningful use is driving everything,” Lieber said. “It is driving more companies to try and come and be recognized, to try healthcare, and to try this audience and say, ‘There may be people here we need to see.' ”
