Written by Mark H. Johnson, MHA, RN-BC, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, Vice President, Sales and Marketing - iatricSystems
Weeks before the 2020 HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition was due to begin on March 9-13, we shared these tips to have a successful HIMSS20 conference. As we all now know, HIMSS20 (and basically every other conference in the near term) has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
Even though we can't be together in person at HIMSS20, there are still things that you can accomplish and learn from the information that was going to be showcased there.
If you're not on the front lines of helping patients battle this virus, and you find yourself with some time to focus (or re-focus), we've updated these tips that you may find helpful.
1. Remember Your Goal and Plan Wisely
If you were headed to HIMSS20, you likely had a goal to accomplish. Our original tip was around time management, and you can still apply some of those philosophies even though HIMSS20 will be going digital.
HIMSS20 covers 17 different educational topics, including digital health, innovation, patient engagement, privacy and security, population and public health, and more.
The obvious tip is to attend/view sessions that line up with your goal, but we also advise you to leave room for other activities besides only attending educational sessions.
We encourage you to explore other online resources that HIMSS offers all year round. Did you know that they regularly publish webinars, white-papers and other resources from vendors. If you're looking for a particular solution, it could provide lots of valuable information.
2. Go to the Exhibition Hall and Don’t Forget Your Map
This was obviously our tip pre-cancelation. HIMSS attracts more than 1,300 exhibitors. The goal of exhibiting companies is to encourage attendees to reimagine health, wellness, and technology with the latest technology innovations and solutions.
While you didn't get to experience this massive show floor this year (your feet might thank you), you will still be able to choose your experience and engage with the topics that you were interested in, whether that's through the HIMSS digital conference or if it's setting virtual meetings with the vendors that you planned to visit. And, you can do it on your own timetable. You may not be able to engage with this content amidst the height of COVID-19, but know that we are all here for you when you need us.
3. Be Social Online
Social media is a great way to keep up with what's going on in the industry, anytime. You can follow the #HIMSS20 hashtag to get updates about the HIMSS digital conference and other related topics.
HIMSS20 also announced its Digital Influencer Program of changemakers to enrich the digital experience for HIMSS20 attendees. You can join the conversation by following the changemakers on Twitter, following the hashtag #BeTHeChange and connecting on LinkedIn.
We are also tweeting and sharing industry information that is changing so fast these days, so follow us on twitter to see what’s going on.
Bonus Tip: Reach out to us for anything you need
This year, our focus at HIMSS20 was to help you take the first step to overcome your IT challenges. We are still here and ready to help.
We know you are busy, and likely have other priorities right now, but we hope you know that when you are ready, you can reach out to our experts to discuss your challenges and ambitions surrounding:
Our sincerest thanks go out to all the healthcare workers and essential workers on the front lines.
