As spring blossoms each year, the healthcare IT community gears up for one of its most anticipated events: the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference. For those of us at Point-of-Care Partners (POCP), HIMSS is not just an event; it's a cornerstone of networking, innovation, and learning in the health IT landscape. This year, HIMSS24 in Orlando was no exception, and true to tradition, POCP was right in the thick of it, proudly hosting a kiosk in the Interoperability Showcase.
Our presence was bolstered by several POCP experts, including Pooja Babbrah, Kim Boyd, Jocelyn Keegan, and Vanessa Candelora, who shared their insights as presenters. Following the conference, our team came together to pool their observations and thoughts, offering a kaleidoscope of perspectives on the current and future state of health IT. Here’s a look back at what caught our attention at HIMSS24.
The Buzz Around FHIR
A common starting point for many conversations at the POCP kiosk and overheard at the surrounding HL7 Accelerator kiosks was the question, "What is FHIR?" This highlights a significant opportunity for education, as attendees ranged from newcomers to healthcare to seasoned professionals encountering FHIR in their domains for the first time. The takeaway? FHIR, while not new, remains a concept ripe for wider understanding and application. There is also chatter about a shortage of FHIR developers and interoperability experts including non-technical leaders who understand workflows, how FHIR can be leveraged to solve challenges, change management. Increased visibility and education on FHIR could potentially draw new talent into the industry. The onus is on every healthcare stakeholder to draw in new talent or develop current talent, so we are ready for the next phase of innovation and transformation.
Leadership and Legacy in FHIR
Adding to the thought around drawing new talent into the FHIR community, we are also at a critical point with leadership. Through conversations at HIMSS24, we heard several leaders in the FHIR community are transitioning to new roles or retiring. The need for fresh contributors and for current contributors to move into new leadership roles has never been more apparent. This shift underscores the importance of incorporating recruitment and talent cultivation strategies in our recommendations to clients, ensuring the longevity and dynamism of FHIR initiatives.Exploring
TEFCA's Role in Health IT at HIMSS24
HIMSS24 played host to a series of enlightening sessions on the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), each dissecting its role in health IT. While the security aspects of TEFCA were front and center, illustrating its robust safeguards, the broader narrative focused on its maturation as a driver for interoperability.
Key presentations, like "TEFCA Goes Live: What it Means for Security" and "Advancing Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) using TEFCA," shed light on the operational implications and best practices for stakeholders. As TEFCA's roadmap unfolds, with resources like the FHIR roadmap, it paves the way for stakeholders to smoothly transition into this new era of interoperability.
Artificial Intelligence: A Pragmatic View
We are still clearly near the top of the hype cycle for AI with many booths still touting AI as the salve to solve all ills, however, deeper discussions we had with leaders about AI across the healthcare ecosystem were notably more grounded. These conversations revealed a refreshing focus on realistic use cases rather than overhyped expectations. Another theme around AI was the growing need to improve data quality. AI is only as valuable as the data it was trained on. This pragmatic approach to AI reflects a maturing understanding of its capabilities and limitations and perhaps we are moving to the next phase hype cycle as stakeholders more realistic separate the AI wheat from the chaff.
Vendor Vexations with Interoperability
In several conversations over the course of HIMSS, tech vendors expressed frustration that prospective clients are coming to them lacking a fully formed strategy for interoperability. They expressed that prospective customers thought their role as a vendor would enable them to develop something to meet their needs when the client wasn’t yet clear on what their needs are. This is unfortunately a common occurrence where the expectation is that the vendor partner can fill in gaps in existing strategy. Unfortunately, this rarely ends with either stakeholder being satisfied with the engagement. POCP can help bridge these gaps, we help our clients develop, align, and ground their strategy. This enables a solid foundation to create a persona of characteristics to look for in a vendor partner before seeking technological solutions.
The Reality of Consent
One of the most compelling narratives to emerge from HIMSS24 revolves around the concept of consent in healthcare. This year marked a pivot from theoretical to practical, as seen in the packed sessions featuring regulators and leaders from various sectors. Pooja Babbrah, who attended the Stewards of Change Consent Learning Lab, noted the heightened interest and progress, highlighting that the conversation has extended beyond the theoretical frameworks discussed in last year's consent workshop. It was particularly noteworthy that both federal regulators and local government representatives have moved to pilot consent models for health and human services, signaling a commitment to making consent "real."
Moreover, Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) are finding their place in this transformation. The dialogue around HIEs has expanded to explore their potential roles in broader scenarios, including pharmacies, long-term post-acute care (LTPAC), and the evolving landscape of consent management. This shift points to a future where consent is not just a checkbox but an integral part of patient empowerment and inter-sectoral collaboration. As we move forward, it's clear that the real-world application of consent will become increasingly important in shaping a health IT ecosystem that is both patient-centric and compliant.
Health Equity
The Gravity session on social determinants of health (SDOH) and the focus on health equity underscored the critical role of consistent data, standards and common vocabularies. There is a need to also identify the right parts of the community and how to priorities the specific business and patient related problems to solve first. Meanwhile, discussions on price transparency, CMS interoperability rules, and the evolving landscape of electronic health records (EHRs) spotlighted ongoing industry challenges and opportunities.
Relationship Building at HIMSS
HIMSS24 also served as a valuable forum for strengthening relationships with clients and colleagues through in-person meetings. These interactions, from casual dinners to formal presentations, are essential for collaboration and mutual growth. We also enjoyed meeting new people who share our passion for leveraging technology and business transformation to solve the big, hairy problems in healthcare. While virtual meetings are great, nothing will ever take the place of face to face connections and HIMSS delivers!
Looking Forward
Reflecting on the diverse observations from HIMSS24, it's clear that the future of health IT is both exciting and challenging. From the technical intricacies of interoperability and AI to the human-centric concerns of consent and health equity, the path forward is multifaceted.
As we look toward HIMSS25, we're energized by the potential to continue shaping a healthcare future that is more connected, equitable, and innovative. The insights gleaned from HIMSS24 will undoubtedly play a crucial role in our ongoing efforts to make healthcare better for everyone through smart technology and process changes.
Until next year, let's carry forward the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and dedication that HIMSS always inspires. Here’s to another year of making strides in health IT, together.
