In my February Up Front column, I wrote about the planned World Product Centre (WPC) in New York that investors have billed as “the world’s first permanent international health care marketplace and education centre.” Within the 1.5 million-square-foot building, fully equipped showrooms will enable vendors to demonstrate the compatibility of their products with clinical connectivity and interoperability standards. The WPC will include educational facilities for accredited continuing medical education programs, media centers, technology labs, traditional office space, and space for health care events. The joint venture includes the participation of—along with other organizations—the Greater New York Hospital Association.
What do you think about this plan? Will it streamline your work and make device acquisitions easier? Does it make sense to have a facility that brings together—in one location, under one roof, year around—the many sectors that contribute to the success of health care? I’ll be looking forward to your comments.