News | HIMSS | April 17, 2023

HIMSS 2023 Global Conference Preview and Top 5 Topics

ITN’s editorial team will be offering comprehensive coverage from the Health Information and Management Systems Society Global Health Conference and Exhibition, HIMSS 2023, being held April 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. A snapshot of hot topics and industry leaders in the line-up at the global event is offered here.

The Imaging Technology News (ITN) editorial team will be offering comprehensive coverage from the Health Information and Management Systems Society Global Health Conference and Exhibition, HIMSS 2023, being held April 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. A snapshot of hot topics and industry leaders in the line-up at the global event is offered here.

The Imaging Technology News (ITN) editorial team will be offering comprehensive coverage from the Health Information and Management Systems Society Global Health Conference and Exhibition, HIMSS 2023, being held April 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. A snapshot of hot topics and industry leaders in the line-up at the global event is offered here. Photo credit: HIMSS

April 17, 2023 — Kicking off day one of the Health Information and Management Systems Society Global Health Conference and Exhibition, HIMSS 2023, being held April 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, was Harold (Hal) F. Wolf III, President and CEO of HIMSS, who will be provide a welcome and opening remarks at the off-site Executive Summit. Wolf, a global advisor and thought leader supporting the transformation of the health ecosystem through information and technology, is respected internationally as a healthcare and informatics leader. The Summit schedule includes nearly 80 different sessions on the hottest HIMSS topics, including cybersecurity, interoperability, the growing role of machine learning-natural language processing-artificial intelligence to clinician burnout, and health equity initiatives, among many others.

Among several presentations in which Wolf will be participating, “Views from the Top: Existential Crisis or Inflection Point Opportunity? An Industry Maverick’s Perspective” is generating strong interest among the HIMSS community. Scheduled for Tuesday, April 18 at 3 p.m. the session is summarized in the program this way: “In what will be likely remembered as a pivotal conversation for our industry, we are thrilled to welcome to the HIMSS stage iconic American entrepreneur, innovator, and investor, Glen Tullman, CEO of Transcarent, Founder and Executive Chairman of Livongo Health and Founder and CEO of Allscripts. In this fireside chat with Hal Wolf, HIMSS CEO, you’ll hear Glen talk about his past successes; how he’s helped lead our industry to its growing focus on the consumer experience and empowerment; and how he sees our industry evolving over the next decade. You’ll hear about practical, scalable solutions to our industry’s existential challenges as we migrate our economy from episodic sick care to ‘always on’ preventive care. Expect to leave informed and inspired.”

Tuesday through Friday at the conference, attendees — both in-person and virtual — will be provided a plethora of information-packed options, with keynotes, co-located events, and general education sessions across key topics, under the theme “Health That Connects, Tech That Cares.”

Topics include digital health transformation to AI to cybersecurity to telehealth, and more, provided in a variety of programs, including pre-conference symposia and forums, keynote speakers, specialty education sessions, executive experiences, clinician roundtables, international summits, as well as investment and entrepreneur activities.

In addition, ITN will be meeting with a variety of vendors and industry providers to get the latest information on new technologies and the ways health care systems are integrating innovative products into the lives of their staffs and their patients. The Exhibitor list detailed on the conference site includes 1,214 companies, and exhibit hours are as follows: Tuesday, April 18, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Wednesday, April 19, from 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Thursday, April 20, from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Our Senior Editorial Director has spent the past several weeks discussing the hottest issues with some of the best minds at HIMSS. Offered regularly through video, digital and print, Imaging Technology News has developed a new multi-media series in 2023, “One on One with…” which delivers concise and topical trends you don’t want to miss. ITN Senior Editorial Director, Melinda Taschetta-Millane has connected with key subject matter experts from HIMSS for high-quality, valuable conversations. Topics zero in on cybersecurity priorities, AI and digital transformation, and healthcare’s greatest opportunities and challenges. These experts will be presented in video interviews, digital feature articles and upcoming print issues. ITN’s coverage on the hottest HIMSS news will keep you informed, educated, motivated and in the know. Stay tuned for more on all of these value-packed discussions.

HIMMS 2023 News Preview

Here, then, a preview of highlights and HIMSS news the Imaging Technology News (ITN)/www.itnonline.com editorial team will be covering and sharing during (and after) the global conference:

1. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

A wide range of sessions are focused on the emergence of ML and AI in the health care setting, and for good reason. We’ll be taking in a good number of educational and keynote presenters — top experts across the industry and across the country — to learn and share what’s being done, what risks are on the road ahead and how HIMSS members can optimize patient care and workflow. In ITN’s “One on One with…” discussion with HIMSS’ Vice President and General Manager, Digital Health Advisory Julius Bogdan, offers a not-to-be-missed overview of key developments and top priorities in digital transformation leveraging artificial intelligence. You won’t want to miss that, so stay tuned. With the help of artificial intelligence, cutting-edge technology is being developed that will help improve patient outcomes and build efficiencies in healthcare, which will help transform the future of healthcare delivery. View ITN's interview with Julius Bogdan, HIMSS' leading expert in Digital transformation, Data and analytics, and Artificial intelligence and machine learning, to find out more about the inroads AI is making here: https://www.itnonline.com/videos/video-benefits-and-pitfalls-artificial-intelligence-healthcare

One of nine special forums, HIMSS23 is offering Machine Learning and AI for Healthcare Forum, featuring real world use cases and provide opportunities to network with your fellow ML/AI peers (requiring separate registration, according to event planners).

2. Innovation in Healthcare

A bright spotlight will be placed on innovation in healthcare during HIMSS23, and the presence of HIMSS’ Chief Research Officer in an information-packed session makes that clear. One of the many sessions offering updates and insights into healthcare innovation will be a joint presentation with the Leapfrog Group and HIMSS, set for Wednesday afternoon, which will examine recent research that investigates the influence of advances in digital maturity on hospital performance with specific focus on quality and safety outcomes.

3. Health Equity

A high priority for health systems across the country and the world, health equity initiatives and achievements are plentiful on the HIMSS23 program, and necessarily so. We’re eager to learn from those who have implemented AI-enhanced health technology programs to close the health equity disparity gap. One example we’re eager to see is from Yuchen Zhang, PMP, Senior Data Scientist for Wilmington, DE-based ChristianaCare. ChristianaCare President and CEO, Janice E. Nevin, MD, MPH, who serves on the American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Trustees, has championed health equity in unique and impactful ways. As noted in a recent online AHA-published article: All acute care hospitals in Delaware have agreed to embark on a journey to eliminate health disparities and create healthier communities. Nevin helped make this statewide commitment possible. Last year, the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity (IFDHE) launched the Health Equity Roadmap, a national initiative to drive improvement in health care outcomes, health equity, diversity and inclusion. The Roadmap helps hospitals and health systems chart their own path toward transformation.

Tuning in to learn how digital health technology is impacting everyday lives of health care workers and patients will be top of mind.

4. Cybersecutiry, Data and Information

With 200 sessions, 65 of them in educational sessions, scheduled on data and information, cybersecurity is certain to take center stage during the conference. As ITN learned from a deep-dive discussion with Lee Kim, HIMSS Senior Principal, Cybersecurity and Privacy, in a recent editorial interview, there is no shortage of concerns and initiatives in play to help healthcare systems conquer the existing and potential threats. View the ITN TV Video interview on cybersecurity here. ITN will also be watching for news developments from vendors in this space on the exhibit floor, and provide regular updates. Notably, Mayo Clinic will have multiple representatives sharing expertise in educational sessions, including CIO Christopher James Ross, its Platform Medical Director and its Senior Data Scientist, among other renowned healthcare institutions sharing valuable actionable guidance and insights.

5. Future Forecasting and Football, too

All eyes and ears will surely be on the economic outlook by top analyst Mark M. Zandi, Chief Economist of Moody’s Analytics, where he directs economic research. Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody’s Corp., is a leading provider of economic research, data and analytical tools. A trusted adviser to policymakers and an influential source of economic analysis for businesses, journalists and the public, Dr. Zandi is a cofounder of Economy.com, which Moody’s purchased in 2005. His keynote session, “Are More Turbulent Times Ahead for Healthcare? An Economic Outlook,” is set for Friday morning in the Skyline Ballroom (West Building).

Considering the fast-pace of growth in pharmacy delivery systems, and a focus on the healthcare industry’s financial future, a session by Vin Gupta, MD, MPA, MSc, is an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington; Amazon Pharmacy’s Chief Medical Officer, as well as NBC News Analyst and New York Times contributor, and Philips’ Future Health Index, there’s a lot to cover on the economic front, and we’ve got you covered.

And who can resist hearing from NFL Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin, who is a direct beneficiary of fantastic health care, and visiting HIMSS to share what’s sure to be an inspirational message. NFL player, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Damar Hamlin inspires audiences with his vision for making an impact through his life and work. The title of his keynote session, set for Friday in the Skyline Ballroom, was inspired by the words of his trauma surgeon, who has said to him after surviving cardiac arrest, “You won the game of life.”

For more information: https://www.himss.org/global-conference/attend-about

View the ITN TV Video interview on cybersecurity here.

View the ITN Video interview on AI here.

Find more HIMSS23 conference news coverage here