CHICAGO (September 7, 2006) - The HIT Dashboard has added new tracking components to make it easier to find information by state on:

* legislation related to health information technology (HIT)
* HIMSS chapters
* Davies Award of Excellence winners

The HIT Dashboard is the result of a collaborative effort between the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the Center for Health Information and Decision Systems (CHIDS) at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland.

Now, users of this comprehensive resource can track information by state on HIMSS chapters, winners of the HIMSS Davies Award of Excellence and state legislation related to health IT plus information, which is updated bi-weekly, on more than 500 health information exchange (HIE) initiatives.

"With this recent update, the HIT Dashboard offers additional data on health IT initiatives plus new information on HIMSS chapters, legislation and Davies award winners," said JoAnn W. Klinedinst, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, PMP, who is director, healthcare information systems, for HIMSS. "Customized to the user's individual needs, the dashboard offers the ability to access information by state or by the type (or types) of health IT initiatives."

For example, the user can launch the map of the United States on the HIT Dashboard site, select a state and click on that state to view the health information exchange initiatives, which are represented by different icons. Click on the icon for an explanation. The information available includes:

* Awards (private or public) at the state level, funding specific to a state
* Public announcements
* State level EHR announcements
* Private statewide initiatives or formation of task forces (ex: Pennsylvania eHealth Initiative)
* State legislation (an update on introduced or pending legislation)
* HIMSS Davies Award of Excellence winners (location and contact information)
* HIMSS Chapters (location and contact information)

Visit the HIT Dashboard at http://www.hitdashboard.com/ for more information.

About HIMSS
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is the healthcare industry's membership organization exclusively focused on providing leadership for the optimal use of healthcare information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of human health. Founded in 1961 with offices in Chicago, Washington D.C., and other locations across the country, HIMSS represents more than 20,000 individual members and over 300 corporate members that collectively represent organizations employing millions of people. HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through its advocacy, educational and professional development initiatives designed to promote information and management systems' contributions to ensuring quality patient care.