The coronavirus has claimed another business casualty, and this time it’s one of the key events of Dane County’s second largest employer. Epic Systems announced today that it will cancel rather than postpone its Experts Group Meeting (XGM) 2020, set for late April and early May.
This morning, the electronic medical records company notified its customers and community partners about the admittedly difficult decision, one the company says was made only after careful consideration. “Although this was a difficult decision, we believe it’s the best option to keep our staff, customers, and communities healthy,” the company said in a prepared statement.
The decision will have a significant impact on Madison’s economy, as the company’s spring and fall users group meetings attract thousands of health IT professions to the area, filling hotels throughout Dane County and south-central Wisconsin. “We will miss seeing our guests at XGM this year and are saddened that this change will impact the businesses in our community that help welcome and host the 9,000 guests who come to XGM,” the company says. “However, we felt that this decision was necessary to help slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Epic’s spring XGM joins a growing number of business and event cancellations or postponements in Madison, the state of Wisconsin, and nationwide. For its part, In Business has decided to postpone its March 17 Icons in Business event featuring Sarah Rasmusen, chief customer officer for Lands’ End. A new date has yet to be determined.
