Now that you're here: resources for you

Now that you’re here: resources for you

By Patty Enrado, Editor

ORLANDO, Fla. — Welcome to Orlando! We trust that you made it safe and sound, with no weather-induced delays. Now that you’re here, we present a plethora of HIMSS resources to make your HIMSS08 experience smooth and enjoyable.

Self-service registration
The HIMSS self-service registration kiosks help save time for attendees and exhibitors while streamlining the onsite registration process. This registration process lets attendees register onsite at the convention center for the conference and optional events.

Online registration will stay open up until and through the conference. You can register anywhere you can access the Web and go to the onsite self-service kiosks for your badge.

Attendees who need to register or who didn’t receive their registration packets in the mail can print their badges and tickets at the self-service kiosks with a valid photo ID.

Exhibitors who did not have their packets mailed to them in advance can print their badges and tickets onsite at the convention center’s self-service registration kiosk. Badges and tickets may only be printed once on site.

Changes to previously registered attendees and exhibitors cannot be made at the self-service kiosks. A full-service, staffed registration area will be available at Lobby B for these changes.

The HIMSS Daily Insider
For all the latest news on HIMSS08, pick up a copy of the HIMSS Daily Insider, located throughout the conference center. Check out the schedule of the day’s events, previews of education sessions and activities and recaps of events. Let the HIMSS Daily Insider be your daily guide to HIMSS08.

HIMSS Conference Web site
Watch for the HIMSS Online Daily Insider for conference updates:
www.himssconference.org/onlinedaily

This Web site is updated to reflect conference news, highlights and schedule updates.

Internet Access
HIMSS and the Orange County Convention Center offer multiple options for HIMSS08 attendees to access the Web. Unlimited access to the Internet via Wi-Fi service is available in all public areas, including food courts, lobbies and education rooms. The exhibit floor is excluded. You’ll need a laptop that is Wi-Fi enabled, or you can purchase a wireless networking card at the Wi-Fi counter in Lobby C. Your conference badge and mailing will include access information.

New this year, the Recharge Café enables attendees to recharge cell phones or laptops and access Surf the Net on hard computers and Wi-Fi, which is also available in all meeting rooms and other public areas.

Session presentations can be accessed through the Wi-Fi service or printed on-site at the print-on-demand stations located throughout the conference floor.

My Planner
Your handheld device is your conference scheduling and networking tool when you download “My Planner” from www.himss08.org. This tool will allow you to add events to your Outlook calendar, which you can later sync to your PDA. If you do not have Outlook, you can export your selected sessions to a spreadsheet you can load onto your PDA. Attendees who have a Windows CE handheld device, such as iPaq or Axim, can download an application from the Web site that will allow you to query the conference guide for session and exhibitor information and then create your own personal schedule. For other types of PDA, you can download a spreadsheet of all sessions and exhibitors.

MyHIMSS08
The MyHIMSS08 portal is a personalized resource to help you plan your conference experience. Just click on the “MyHIMSS08″ link at www.himssconference.org to create a menu of activities that best match your profile from the hundreds of educational, exhibit and networking options. Choose from 20 categories.

HIMSS Connect
HIMSS08 offers all registered attendees online attendee matching tools to help you connect with other attendees and exhibitors. HIMSS Connect lets you:
Expand Your Network of Contacts - Search, match and connect with other attendees and exhibitors
Schedule Times to Connect - Plan meetings with attendees and sponsors
Build Business Relationships - Grow your network of industry contacts
The easy-to-use matching, searching and visualization tools let you quickly identify other members with whom you would like to exchange knowledge, develop a business partnership or share best practices. Get In, Get Connected, and Get Out…or stay online to participate in engaging forum discussions and collaborate within on-line birds of a feather groups with other attendees. HIMSS08 Connect offers attendees introductory access before, during and after the conference up until April 15th.

HIMSS Message Center
Need to contact a conference goer but don’t have his or her phone number or e-mail address? You can send your message to the Message Center, which goes through the HIMSS Information Booth in Lobby C. From there, calls are collected and then pushed as e-mails directly to attendees. The Message Center number is 407.685.5485.

Exhibitor navigational kiosk
Reach attendees multiple times during the conference. The navigational kiosk, which is sponsored by Clinical Solutions, Fujitsu and Galvanon, helps direct attendees to sessions and exhibits. Attendees can search for information on exhibitors and their educational sessions, and then print out a directional map.

GIS navigation system
This Mapquest-like tool helps attendees navigate their way throughout the conference floor. Attendees can retrieve information on education sessions and locate exhibitor booth, concession stands, restrooms and telephones. The navigation system lets users search and drill down by different criteria such as all single sign-on exhibitors or RHIO sessions. Once attendees locate what they’re looking for, they can print out a map to guide them. The navigation system, which is sponsored by Clinical Solutions, Fujitsu and Galvanon, can be found at the more than 30 computer kiosks located throughout the conference center.

Digital downloads
HIMSS is proud to bring you for the first time digital downloads of the HIMSS08 education sessions. Download an individual session, a whole track of sessions or the entire conference. Digitell, located on Level 2 in both Lobby A/B and Lobby C, will be taking orders at the conference for digital downloads of the HIMSS08 education sessions.

Education session printouts
Printer stations, located throughout the center and sponsored by EMC, enable you to print on demand only what you need — the most current conference presentation. You can also have access to conference presentations online and on CD-ROM before, during and after the conference.

HIMSS Central
At HIMSS Central, get updated on the latest news about HIMSS’ initiatives, and access the rich list of tools and resources available to HIMSS members and the HIT industry in such areas as professional development, HIMSS U.S. and global events, and HIMSS Communities.

Make a trip to the HIMSS Bookstore, where you can purchase the latest publications and CD-ROMs published by HIMSS and other prestigious associations and publishers.

Steven Levitt, author of Freakonomics, will be on hand for a book signing at the HIMSS Bookstore at HIMSS Central on Thursday, from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Show Your Spirit & Wear HIMSS Gear! Available to all members and conference attendees, HIMSS Gear can be purchased at the HIMSS Bookstore in HIMSS Central.
Purchase great logo gear, including shirts, hats, visors, mugs, water bottles and more! For every item purchased $1 will be donated to the HIMSS Foundation.

Ambassadors and Innovative Travel services
Ambassadors and Innovative Travel have set up booths to respond to your housing and travel requests and questions, respectively. Ambassadors’ booths are located in Lobby B, outside Hall B, and Exhibitor Service Center. Innovative Travel’s booth is located in Lobby B, outside Hall B. Staff will be available at the Innovative Travel book Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for printing boarding passes.

Print your boarding passes on-site
Before you leave the HIMSS08 and the Orange County Convention Center, you can print your air travel boarding passes at travel booths located at the Innovative Travel booth, located in Lobby B, all day Tuesday through Thursday.