HIMSS Conference Preview

Adventure Awaits at HIMSS14

By Heather Hogstrom

For those tired of the winter weather, the HIMSS conference, slated for February 23 to 27, will provide an escape to sunny Orlando, Florida.

Since Orlando is home to Walt Disney World, you may be curious how Disney delivers health care to its employees and guests at both its theme parks on land and cruise ships at sea. Check out the session by Michael Hankins, MD, MPH, chief physician for Disney Parks and Resorts Health Services, on “Integrating Health Information Across the Enterprise: The Disney Experience” to learn about the people, processes, and technologies required to deliver integrated care across the enterprise.

Or perhaps you’re interested in how hospitals maintain patient care in an emergency. In “All Patients Must Evacuate the Hospital! How One IT Department Ensured Continuity of Care,” Eli Tarlow, CPHIMS, CHCIO, and Stephen Natarajan of the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation will share their experiences during Superstorm Sandy.

Keynote speakers for the conference include Mark Bertolini, CEO of Aetna; Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Secretary of State and former US senator from New York; and Marilyn Tavenner, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Erik Weihenmayer, a world-class adventurer and speaker who is the only blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, will deliver the closing keynote session on using challenges as opportunities to make the impossible possible.

New programs this year include YourTurn at HIMSS14, which will present six 45-minute unstructured sessions to engage attendees in spontaneous discussions on current key issues. Health IT Law Track, a new specialty program on Sunday, will help attendees understand key health laws and issues.

The exhibit hall will feature several new additions, including the following:

• The interactive, hands-on Connected Patient Learning Gallery will showcase HIT products and services for engaging patients and providers.

• The Federal Health IT Solutions area will allow attendees to explore a variety of products, services, and education sessions from US federal agencies.

• The First-Time Exhibitors & Startup Pavilion will highlight up to 40 innovative early-stage startups making their HIMSS debut.

• A frequent launch site for HIT products and services, the HIMSS conference will introduce more than 350 of the latest products and services.

• The Interoperability Showcase, showing how collaborative technology is vital to connected health, will feature a simulated environment including an ICU, physician office, and operating room.

For more information, visit www.himssconference.org.

— Heather Hogstrom is an editorial assistant at For The Record.