By Jim Tate, EMR Advocate
MACRA/MIPS Subject Matter Expert
Twitter: @jimtate, eMail: jimtate@emradvocate.com
Host of The Tate Chronicles – #TateDispatches
I attended the recent HIMSS 2019 Annual Conference and, as always, was not disappointed. Attendance at the annual event is mandatory for anyone involved in healthcare information technology and the related regulatory/compliance space. Where else can one find such a concentration of presentations from governmental, policy, and technology experts? Sure, the well-known thought leaders were there, but also the visionaries.
As always, the HIMSS conference is a giant buffet where it pays to be selective. There is simply too much to see. I focused on two emerging fields while leaving plenty of time for random strolls through the immense exhibit hall.
Blockchain: the emergence of blockchain technology and applications relevant to healthcare received a special focus at HIMSS19. The potential benefits in healthcare are just beginning to be realized. HIMSS hosted breakfast and luncheon panels on the technology. There was the half-day Blockchain Forum with multiple presenters and opportunities for meetups. If that was not enough, there was also the pre-conference day long Blockchain Symposium. From provider credentialing to storage of health records it is becoming obvious that blockchain in healthcare is here to stay.
Precision Medicine: one of the great things about the HIMSS Annual Conference is the opportunity to get a glimpse of healthcare developments that are just over the horizon. Such is the case with precision medicine which has been described a “personalized medicine 2.0”. The use of an individual’s genetic information to tailor medical treatments is no longer just a pipe dream. HIMSS19 offered a full day Precision Medicine Summit along with numerus opportunities to learn more about this topic sprinkled throughout the annual conference.
The HIMSS Annual Conference is the one event I never miss. There is no comparable venue offering such exposure to the trends of healthcare information and technology.