HIMSS celebrates 50th anniversary year and formation of Central Pennsylvania chapter

During its 50^th anniversary year, HIMSS celebrates another milestone in the organization's history with the formation of the Central Pennsylvania chapter of HIMSS, its 50^th chapter. The chapter serves the Harrisburg/Reading area of the state.

“I congratulate the HIMSS members of Central Pennsylvania who have come together with their volunteer chapter leaders to help move forward better healthcare with technology.”

The Society established its first chapter - New York - in 1968 when HIMSS was the Hospital Management Systems Society - or HMSS. The New York chapter also was an affiliate of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers - Hospital Division (Tappan Zee Chapter). Its members hailed from the boroughs of New York City, Long Island and New Jersey, according to documentation in The History of HIMSS.

"When I got involved with H(I)MSS in the early '70s, we had a little over 500 members. As we approach our 50^th anniversary and recognize the establishment of our 50^th chapter, it is wonderful to see that our membership has also grown by a factor of 50," said John L. Templin, Jr., LFHIMSS, FACHE, FAAHC, DSHS. Templin is a lifetime member of HIMSS and of the New York HIMSS chapter. "More importantly, that HIMSS has become the preeminent healthcare IT professional organization. It is a 'must-join' and a 'must-participate' society. Congratulations."

As background, Pennsylvania plays a pivotal role in the formation of HIMSS. Academician Harold E. Smalley, PhD, established the hospital management engineering/management systems profession while at the University of Pittsburgh. He prompted Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh to develop the first management engineering program in the country and helped to recruit Ed Gerner, from the steel industry, to lead this effort. They, with others, envisioned the need and potential for a society for the new hospital management engineering profession with Gerner elected as the first Society president and Smalley became the first Executive Director after he moved to Georgia Institute of Technology.

"We wish to thank the HIMSS board for granting approval to form the 50th chapter as Central Pennsylvania HIMSS (CPAHIMSS) in this 50th year anniversary. We would also like to thank the board members from the Western Pennsylvania chapter and the Delaware Valley chapter for supporting our efforts in establishing a chapter that bridges a large geographical gap in Pennsylvania," said Ronald M. Cowan, FHIMSS, Vice President of Information Management and CIO, Lewistown Hospital, Lewistown, Penn. "We believe the establishment of this new chapter will provide greater access for Central Pennsylvania HIMSS members to enjoy more benefits from networking with peers and educational opportunities within a reasonable travel destination."

"With the announcement of our 50^th chapter in Central Pennsylvania, HIMSS has expanded its reach to provide quality education and other professional development opportunities to health IT professionals in this area and to all of our chapters," said H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, HIMSS President/CEO. "I congratulate the HIMSS members of Central Pennsylvania who have come together with their volunteer chapter leaders to help move forward better healthcare with technology."