ORLANDO, Fla. -- Last week's 2008 Annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference & Exhibition was a record-breaking event, with more than 28,400 attendees and 900 exhibiting companies, according to HIMSS President and CEO H. Stephen Lieber. The previous record was in San Diego in 2006, where 24,870 healthcare IT professionals attended and 859 companies exhibited.

"This accomplishment was no small feat. We would like to thank the general attendees, who support the urgent need for an electronic healthcare system. Thanks also go to the companies that have brought their newest innovations to our exhibition," Lieber said.

"Healthcare IT is a major issue worldwide, and we believe our conference has furthered the cause. With recent presidential calls to action on the topic, consumers and healthcare professionals are aware of the value of an electronic healthcare system: reduced medical errors and lower healthcare costs. Our conference brings healthcare professionals together with the companies leading the industry to facilitate change and innovation."

Next year's conference and exhibition will be held April 4-8, 2009, in Chicago.

More Industry Headlines