WASHINGTON – The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society has created a Diversity Business Roundtable for Health IT, designed to give businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans the opportunity to colaborate and grow as the health IT market prepares for rapid expansion.

"HIMSS has long offered educational and other resources to support our members' growth, and we're pleased that we can now offer a home for diverse enterprises to take advantage of those resources and share strategies to develop their businesses," said HIMSS President and CEO H. Stephen Lieber.

"The health IT business community has an unprecedented opportunity to make an impact with innovative solutions and services, job growth and overall transformation of the health industry," said Peggy McShane, a co-chairwoman of the roundtable. "Business leaders understand that this fundamental change can only occur when there is collaboration and partnership, which diversity-owned businesses deliver every day. The launch of the roundtable could not have come at a better time."

According to officials, HIMSS has a wide range of resources to help corporate members capitalize on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other opportunities to grow their businesses. Entrepreneurs are invited to join in the inaugural conference call of the Diversity Business Roundtable on Nov. 13 and take part in networking events at HIMSS10 in Atlanta, scheduled for March 1-4, 2010.

Along with McShane of Net New Growth (woman-owned), the roundtable's co-chairman are Rick Blake of Strategic Health Resources (minority-owned) and Keith Moore from Martin-Blanck (veteran-owned). 

For more information contact HIMSS staff liaison Arnol Simmons at asimmons@himss.org.