What does the healthcare of tomorrow look like? HIMSS is on a mission to find out—and help pave the way.
Thirty-five thousand visionary healthcare leaders, tech-savvy professionals, and dynamic market suppliers descended on Orlando March 11-15, 2024 to join in the journey at this year’s Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference.
Missed the excitement? We’ve curated the top five insights just for you with recaps of important sessions.
Insight #1: The Impact of AI on Healthcare
In his keynote, Keller Rinaudo, CEO of Zipline, illuminated the transformative potential of AI in healthcare. Drawing from his experience with drones in Africa, he showcased how robotics and automation can revolutionize healthcare delivery and patient experiences. Hospitals served by Zipline drones have seen a 51% reduction in maternal deaths caused by postpartum hemorrhaging. And with centralized storage and quick delivery, hospitals and blood banks waste 67% less blood.
Rinaudo's vision gains even greater resonance in the quest for a technologically advanced and equitable healthcare future. How much faster can we reach people in need? Where can drones take life-saving supplies that humans can’t get to? Rinaudo's insights underscored the profound impact AI will have on reshaping the healthcare industry.
Insight #2: The Importance of People Before Technology
Healthcare leaders are continually focused on personalizing patient experiences and improving decision making. That’s why more and more healthcare organizations are integrating advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and analytics to streamline operations and enhance patient care.
In his session, Robert Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, emphasized the importance of balancing advanced technologies like AI with personalized patient experiences. By empowering clinicians with automated or predictive AI tools, the focus can shift to quality care delivery—instead of entering in or processing data. Matt Renner, President of North America and Global Startups at Google Cloud, also highlighted the transformative potential of human-centric innovation in shaping the future of healthcare.
What manual healthcare processes can you alleviate? Check out our healthcare forms and document templates to automate standard flows and get back to patient care.
Insight #3: Maintain Security and Compliance as Newer Technologies Roll Out
In healthcare, the integration of AI prompts both hope and concern. Michael Ruggio and Mitzi Hill from Taylor English Duma LLP stressed the importance of understanding AI risks across patient care, communication, policy, supply chain management, and reimbursement. Their insights emphasized the need to adopt best practices in navigating legal and operational challenges posed by AI.
Additionally, Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security, discussed the crucial link between trust and technology security. Tobac pointed out how attackers exploit trust mechanisms like email and phone communications to breach data privacy. Offering strategies to combat social engineering attacks, she reinforced the importance of maintaining security even during global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Insight #4: Build a Culture that Leans Toward Technical Innovation
In a captivating fireside chat, Coach Nick Saban shared his remarkable journey of building winning seasons through dedication and resilience. Drawing parallels between football and healthcare, he stressed the importance of disciplined leadership and overcoming adversity. Saban's narrative inspired attendees to embrace challenges and foster a culture of innovation in their organizations.
Insight #5: Breakthrough the Barrier of Paper Workflows (Formstack + University of Tennessee Medical Center)
Despite the strategic importance of digital innovation, healthcare organizations encounter persistent barriers that hinder full adoption. In our very own lunch and learn session, Formstack’s Lacey Jackson discussed interoperability challenges, like broken systems and processes that a staggering 88% of hospitals report experiencing. The lack of Interoperability impedes efficient exchange and the use of electronic health information, resulting in a fragmented patient experience. And when patients receive fragmented care, they’re 68% less likely to engage in their treatment plans, according to the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Despite the pressing need for transformation, many healthcare organizations continue to lag behind, particularly in non-clinical digitization. We outlined key barriers to overcome, including:
- Interoperability issues
- Legacy systems
- ROI concerns
- Data silos
- Budget constraints
Our key insight: embrace a digital-first mindset that prioritizes interoperability and automated digital solutions.
One exemplary case of this is the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC), where Sarah Galyon, Technical Operations Manager, spearheaded a mission to digitize healthcare workflows.
“We were really struggling trying to find a platform where we could collect data from outside affiliates and outside resources,” she said. “A lot of our intake processes revolved around email and fax, and those methods are really subject to data breaches, or just getting lost because it's a paper.”
Facing challenges in centralizing data collection from outside providers and partners, UTMC struggled with inefficient, paper-based workflows. Sarah's team embarked on a journey to digitize these flows with Formstack's HIPAA-friendly platform while ensuring data security and eliminating paper processes.
“I think it's been a real game changer, at least, in my line of work,” said Galyon “We've been able to tackle and reach the other half of the healthcare world that people don't tend to see. Everybody thinks of healthcare workers in terms of physicians or nurses or people actually at the bedside of the patient. Formstack has been a really awesome tool that we've been able to leverage for the other side of the house that doesn't have patient contact, but they do administrative work and digital workflows.”
Unlock Your Organization’s Digital Healthcare Potential
Despite the ongoing challenges in healthcare, from fragmented experiences to persistent barriers hindering digital transformation, HIMSS24 highlighted the need for a more efficient, patient-centered future. Formstack remains committed to empowering healthcare organizations like yours with the tools and insights you need to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare.
Ready to take the next step? Try our 14-day free trial to start constructing reliable, streamlined systems that boost employee satisfaction, exceed patient demands, and maximize time and cost savings for your healthcare organization.
