3 Healthcare Technology Trends to Watch at HIMSS20
Elizabeth Snell
We are just one week away from the start of HIMSS20, the annual gathering of over 45,000 healthcare technology educators, innovators and collaborators.
This year’s theme is “Be the Change,” with an extra push for the changemakers to come together and reimagine how healthcare tech can continue to evolve for the better. Here at Walker Sands, we are very excited to see what sort of innovations are set to impact the health and wellness industries.
Whether you are a healthcare tech provider, wellness tech exec or another type of wellness influencer, here are three key areas of innovation in the industry that we’re looking forward to seeing highlighted at this year’s conference.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications are becoming increasingly common in healthcare tech. More data means that everyone from providers to patients needs the right access at the right time and in a secure fashion. AI can assist in administrative tasks, patient monitoring, and even help with diagnostics and treatment options. The HIMSS20 Innovation Live area will host live demos and real world implementations for how healthcare tech is utilizing AI and ML capabilities. Whether you have questions on the ethical implications of machine learning or want to network with fellow data science innovators, this will be a must-see stop.
Consumerization and Patient Experience
Whether fueled by Amazon or other digital innovations, the consumerization of healthcare is upon us. Patients have access to more of their own health data than ever before, thanks to the rise in mHealth, wearables and precision medicine. But what does that mean for providers? How can health systems and hospitals ensure that patients receive quality care and have information communicated to them in a way that is convenient to the patient – without adding extra burden to the provider? New to HIMSS20, the Consumerism/Patient Engagement Pavilion will “explore solutions that demonstrate how individuals can engage in their healthcare decisions beyond the provider setting.”
Cybersecurity, Privacy & Security
As a former healthcare tech reporter, the privacy and security angle will always hold a special place in my heart, and the topic will once again be one of the top focal areas at HIMSS. With 41 million patient records breached in 2019 – and nearly a 49 percent increase in hacking incidents alone – healthcare continues to be a prime target. Healthcare tech providers must remain educated on all federal regulations and requirements for maintaining data security, especially as technology continues to evolve and become more intricate. The Cybersecurity Command Center returns to HIMSS this year, offering attendees the opportunity to get hands on experience (want to take a whack at the Cyber Challenge gaming area?) with what it takes to keep data secure.
Healthcare tech is an increasingly crowded, noisy and sometimes messy industry. HIMSS20 is set to be a great way for the innovators to “be the change” and collaborate to keep pushing forward. Here at Walker Sands, we’re excited to see what comes next.
Are you in the healthcare tech space and curious to see how Walker Sands can help? Reach out to us to learn more!