With HIMSS23 on the horizon, it’s time to start planning for what sessions you may attend so you get the most out of your visit to Chicago. Hosted by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), the annual Global Health Conference & Exhibition boasts events and sessions run by industry leaders, educators and policy makers.
To help you plan, we’ve compiled a list of health informatics-focused sessions to fill out your itinerary.
1. Views from the Top: Can Technology and Innovation Advance Behavioral Healthcare?
Time: Tuesday, April 18, 10:30am – 11:30am (CT)
Location: South Building, Level 1 | S100 B
Event Page
In the wake of the pandemic, society has become increasingly aware of the vulnerability of individual mental health which has shifted related conversations. This offers an opportunity to rethink behavioral healthcare.
Recent years have seen technology play an instrumental role in opening new avenues for behavioral health support and data collection. Mobile devices and apps provide doctors and patients with access to help, progress monitoring tools, and a deeper understanding of mental wellbeing.
Despite these advancements, there are uncertainties. The lack of industry regulation and limited proof of effectiveness raise concerns about whether we can trust these new methods of care. To address these issues, HIMSS has assembled a panel of experts with diverse perspectives to discuss the current state of behavioral healthcare, the potential benefits and problems technology could introduce to care, and what the future holds for this field.
Attend this illuminating session to gain insights into the state of behavioral healthcare and how technology is shaping its future. The panel discussion offers an opportunity to hear from experts with a variety of perspectives and engage in a thought-provoking conversation about the role of technology in mental healthcare.
2. Strengthening and Diversifying the Nation’s Public Health Workforce: ONC’s Public Health Informatics & Technology (PHIT) Workforce Development Program
Time: Tuesday, April 18, 1:30pm – 2:30pm (CT)
Location: South Building, Level 1 | S100 C
Event Page
Don’t miss out on the panel discussion featuring the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and representatives from the PHIT Workforce Development Program Awardees. In this session, you’ll hear from ONC’s Seon Wilburg, Director of Procurement and Grants, and Sherilyn Pruitt, Senior Advisor, who will provide an overview of the PHIT Workforce Development Program.
They’ll also be joining the awardees to discuss their plans to develop curricula, recruit and train participants, secure paid internship opportunities, and assist in career placement at public health agencies, public health-focused non-profits or other organizations. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain insights into the latest developments in healthcare technology workforce development and learn from leading experts in the field.
3. Women in Health IT Roundtable
Time: Tuesday, April 18, 1:30pm – 2:30pm (CT)
Location: West Building, Level 1 | W192
Event Page
Be inspired by the remarkable journeys of transformational change and innovation in the health sector by the HIMSS’s Most Influential Women in Health IT Changemaker Award Recipients. These distinguished women have made a significant impact at every stage of their careers and across various healthcare domains, from care delivery to informatics to business.
In this panel discussion, they will share their stories of success, providing insights into the unique challenges and opportunities they faced and how they overcame them. Be a part of this enlightening session and discover how these women have become changemakers and role models in the health IT industry.
4. Critical Healthcare Cybersecurity Hygiene for 2023
Time: Wednesday, April 19, 10:00am – 11:00am (CT)
Location: West Building, Level 3 | Skyline Ballroom | W375
Event Page
The rise in cybersecurity threats and attacks against healthcare facilities worldwide has become a significant concern, posing a real risk of harm to patient care. To mitigate these risks, stakeholders across the digital health ecosystem need to be well informed about bad actor actions and provided with practical guidance to bolster their defenses.
In collaboration with the Center for Internet Security (CIS), this session will facilitate information sharing on threat intelligence gathered from US Federal agencies, penetration testers, incident handlers, and others to counteract these attacks. The presentation will feature James Tarala, a globally-recognized SANS Institute Researcher and subject matter expert, who will discuss specific cybersecurity defense methodologies and best practices.
5. Nurses’ Evolving Role in Informatics During the Digital Transformation Era
Time: Wednesday, April 19, 2:30pm – 3:30pm (CT)
Location: South Building, Level 5 | S501
Event Page
Don’t miss a session on empowering nurses in the face of major technological shifts in healthcare. With tremendous resource allocations required for technology, staffing, and regulatory compliance, the ongoing and most costly investment is human resources, which has been especially challenging in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.
Speakers will discuss strategies for supporting nurses as they navigate rapid changes in high-tech healthcare in the 21st century and address the current workforce crisis surrounding employee retention and well-being, clinician burnout, career and workforce development, equity, inclusion, and other pertinent topics with user-centered design in mind.
They’ll examine the role of the informaticist and the value they bring to the healthcare industry, including education, practice, and industry. Additionally, they’ll discuss mentoring opportunities through role transitions and offer resources to facilitate professional development in informatics across education, practice and industry.
This session is a must-attend for those looking to gain insights into how to support nurses in the face of technological shifts and drive positive change in the healthcare industry.
6. Directing the Future of Healthcare Connectivity
Time: Thursday, April 20, 1:00pm – 2:00pm (CT)
Location: South Building, Level 1 | S100 C
Event Page
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) is taking steps to improve access to care, reduce clinician burden, and support interoperability through research on a national healthcare directory. This session features members of the Office of Burden Reduction & Health Informatics sharing insights gathered from a recently released RFI seeking input on the concept of CMS creating a National Directory of Healthcare.
The presentation will cover the potential impact of a national directory on healthcare and data exchange, as well as how interoperability standards could be utilized to address challenges associated with fragmented provider directories. Historical context will also be provided, including previous directory efforts and industry initiatives with Health Level 7 (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR). Attendees are encouraged to share feedback on how a national directory could function and address gaps in practice or services.
7. Predictive Health Framework: Delivering Effective AI-Powered Clinical Workflows
Time: Thursday, April 20, 4:00pm – 5:00pm (CT)
Location: South Building, Level 4 | S403
Event Page
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, but health systems have been slow to adopt it. Although hospitals excel at delivering specific diagnostic and treatment services, they struggle with implementing AI solutions that are effective, efficient and resilient in the complex socio-technological context of healthcare. As a result, AI insights are often underutilized, outdated or even harmful.
To address these challenges, the presenters have developed a systematic Predictive Health Framework (PHF) that replaces ad-hoc, technology-focused deployments with user-centered, end-to-end, results-focused solutions with measurable impacts. The PHF prioritizes trusted systems, end-user adoption, measurable and repeatable workflows, reduced ethical bias, expected clinical outcomes, and sustained value.
Their research shows that AI’s promise in healthcare is real and can drive the engineering rigor required for a broader culture and organizational shift. Attend this session to learn how the PHF demystifies the process of attaining measurable benefits from AI in healthcare.
Join USF Health at HIMSS23 in Chicago, IL from April 17-21. McCormick Place, Professional Development Campus, Kiosk 6000-21.
