By Caleb Graves, TN HIMSS Advocacy Chair

TN HIMSS Advocacy Chair Caleb Graves (Director, Business Development, Staffing as a Mission) pictured in front of the House of Representatives on February 7, 2018 for Tennessee Hill Day.

To kickoff 2018, TN HIMSS teamed up with the Nashville Technology Council to meet with Tennessee state legislators to advocate for the advancement of the Healthcare Information Technology community. On February 6, TN HIMSS members attended a Legislative Reception with state legislators at the Music Hall of Fame and Museum located in downtown Nashville.

This reception provided a unique opportunity for TN HIMSS members to network with state legislators who heavily influence the business environment in our great state. The Legislative Reception was attended by approximately 150 people including TN HIMSS members, state legislators, healthcare executives, entrepreneurs, technology advocates, community leaders and several other thought leaders and influencers.

On February 7, a Tennessee Hill Day was hosted on Capitol Hill where a dozen TN HIMSS members teamed up with members of the Nashville Technology Council to meet with more than 20 state legislators including House Speaker Beth Harwell (Republican) and Senator Jeff Yarbro (Democratic Caucus Chairman). Topics of conversation included: growing our state’s workforce through local education and the hire of quality external applicants, improving access to the ingredients of business growth: capital and infrastructure, lowering the burden of sales tax and software sales tax, and ensuring a diverse workplace. By participating in Tennessee Hill Day, TN HIMSS members raised awareness of our organization’s mission, built relationships with decision makers, and collaborated with other technology-enabled organizations who have shared interests and goals.

This was the inaugural year of TN HIMSS teaming up with the Nashville Technology on Tennessee Hill Day. Based on the success of the two events we plan to continue and expand our efforts in 2019 and beyond. To learn about how you can get involved please contact TN HIMSS Executive Director Tiffany Madigan or Advocacy Chair Caleb Graves.