Having recently attended the HIMSS conference in Orlando, I was struck by the almost total invisibility of LISs. I spotted only three booths of companies specializing in lab software but there may have been a few more. I posted some of my initial impressions of the HIMSS conference in a recent note (see: Dropping Out of HIMSS: A CEO Speaks His Mind). At this time, I wrote that I would be posting a subsequent note about why I think that lab computing is not well represented at HIMSS.
As I have mulled over this question, the
explanation that comes to mind starts with the fact that lab computing was the first successful
example of clinical computing, dating back at least to the 1970s. Getting right to the point, the emergence of lab computing predates HIMSS. Lab computing is therefore off the radar screen of most of the CIOs, hospital executives, and other HIT personnel who attend the HIMSS conference and support the organization. The companies that sell LISs and other types of lab software therefore reach out to their qualified buyers in other conference venues.
I started in the field of pathology informatics and lab computing in 1982. At that time, what we know today as the hospital EMR did not exist. "Mainframe" hospital applications were collectively referred to as the hospital information system (HIS) and were divided into two sets of applications: patient management (PM) and patient accounting (PA). PM involved tracking patient admissions and discharges. Because the dominant role of the HIS was financial support, the HIS manager, often an IBM retread, reported to the hospital chief financial officer (CFO). LISs were purchased, deployed, and managed semi-autonomously within pathology by departmental personnel. The major function of the interface between the LIS and the mainframe computer was to pass lab billing codes to the mainframe computer so that test charges would appear on the patient bill. Radiology information systems (RISs) were managed in a similar way in the department of radiology.
Lab computing was the first successful example of clinical computing and evolved three to four decades ago. Because of this long history, two major pathology informatics and lab computing conferences, Lab InfoTech Summit and APIII, have racked up long and successful track records. The former, previously called AIMCL, was launched in 1983. Both of them provide a specialized environment for lab and pathology-related software topics and exhibitors. Forty-one exhibitors will participate in this year's Lab InfoTech Summit.There are a also host of other lab conferences such as AACC, CLMA, CAP, Lab Institute, and War College that welcome lab software exhibitors.
In summary, these conference venues offer to lab software vendors many distinct advantages, including access to the greatest number of qualified buyers, a more favorable return on investment, and a better exposure for smaller companies. However, despite the periodic complaints about HIMSS, I suspect that it would be extremely hard for smaller specialized HIT conferences similar to those in the lab software world to get a toehold in the face of this juggernaut.
Not long ago, lab managers were the decision makers when the time came to purchase an LIS. Today that is changing, and the CIO seems to play an equal (if not more powerful) roll in decision making.
Slowly, LIS vendors are showing up at HIMSS to make contact with the CIO. In the future, you should expect that trend to continue. But to find lab managers, HIMSS isn’t a good show. Lab managers would prefer to spend their travel budget attending conventions that offer more than just a chance to see LIS software. LabInfoTech offers lab managers a wealth of presentations on lab subjects that isn’t offered at HIMSS. CLMA and AACC do as well.
All companies look at the return on our investment. As one of those LIS vendors you reference, I can tell you HIMSS is an expensive show for the number and quality of leads generated there.
Posted by: Rob Bush | June 04, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Very interesting observation, Bruce.
And yet, it seemed as if the LIS vendors' presence at USCAP keeps increasing, and that conference is becoming more technical...
Posted by: Ole Eichhorn | March 17, 2008 at 10:46 AM