If you work in health IT, you know that the annual HIMSS conference is the biggest industry event each year whether you are headed to Orlando in three weeks or not. The number of emails, blog posts, social media posts, and articles providing guidance and recommendations on HIMSS20 grows with each passing day.
In the next two weeks I’m wrapping up my current interim CTO engagement at University of Vermont Health Network and handing off to the new CTO. If like me you are super busy at work, making your game plan for HIMSS20 is probably low on your priority list. With so much info out there, I decided to pull together some resources that might help in your preparation.
Whether you are attending in person or following the happenings from a distance, the Official HIMSS20 Hashtag Guide will help you focus in on your areas of interest. My top picks this year are #WomenInHIT, #HealthcareStartup, #HealthcareInnovation, and #PatientEngagement. And of course, you’ll want to follow all the HIMSS digital influencers. You can follow and engage with them using hashtag #BeTheChange. If you’re looking for who the 2020 social media ambassadors are, the digital influencers have replaced them with a new and more expansive program.
Several recent blog posts are worth checking out for more previews and tips:
- The StarBridge Advisors blog post from principal, David Muntz – “HIMSS20 – My Annual Exercise in HIT Sensory Overload“ covers the big trends he sees in health IT.
- David Chou’s recent post does a quick wrap up on the J.P. Morgan’s 38th annual Healthcare Conference and tees up what CIOs should focus on at HIMSS20 – “#JPM20 is over. Now it is time for #HIMSS20”.
- John Lynn’s recent post “Connect, Learn, and Meet Up with People at #HIMSS20” highlights a number of meetups you might want to consider. After all, HIMSS conferences are about learning and networking.
- Lygeia Ricciardi’s “Tips for Navigating HIMSS20” is a great compilation of sage advice from many veterans of previous conferences. Love the FOMO comment – HIMSS conferences are definitely overload so plan carefully.
With my focus on developing women leaders in health IT, I’m looking forward to the Women in Healthcare and Tech: Closing the Gap to Strategic Leadership session on March 10 from 10:30AM-11:30AM. A panel of trailblazers with backgrounds in healthcare and technology will discuss empowering women and closing the gap to strategic leadership. Continue reading