HIMSS is such an enormous show that in some years it has been difficult to identify the conference’s core themes. But not this year. From the opening keynotes to major panels it’s clear that healthcare organizations and technologists are focused on using technology to improve the patient journey.
Several keynote speakers, including Christopher Ross, CIO of the Mayo Clinic shared how their personal healthcare stories affect how they’re approaching the challenges facing their organizations in improving the patient journey and delivering better patient outcomes.
“My journey from CIO to patient back to CIO is helping me think about things differently.”
-Christopher Ross, CIO, Mayo Clinic#HIMSS19 #interoperability #aim2innovate pic.twitter.com/1L9N4Zsiay
— Nirav J. Modi (@NiravJModi) February 12, 2019
Even the federal government is focused on the “possibilities for empowering patients.” Seema Verma administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid called for the private sector to step up and create applications that can empower patients as they manage their health.
“The possibilities for empowering patients are endless. We’ve done our part, and now we need the private sector to step up and create applications.” #HIMSS19 pic.twitter.com/pcFJ5Cip0f
— Administrator Seema Verma (@SeemaCMS) February 12, 2019
To this end, Verma also announced that the federal government would take the first step forward by easing patients’ access to their own healthcare records. And Verma was clear to point out that she did not mean that patients would be able to access their healthcare records via CD, paper file, or by requesting that records be faxed between providers.
Biggest news to happen at #HIMSS19– New Rules Could Ease Patients’ Access to Their Own Health Records – WSJ https://t.co/84w1G0OJt7
— Linda Stotsky (@EMRAnswers) February 12, 2019
Which is a good thing, since patients are more than ready to have more control over their healthcare journey. In fact, according to Ashley Dauwer, a self-confessed health IT news junkie, “[p]atients want the technology to know me, show me and guide me.
“Patients want the technology to know me, show me and guide me” @adityabhasin #HIMSS19 #Engage4Health #ptexp pic.twitter.com/cXFK16GFfn
— Ashley Dauwer (@amariedauwer) February 12, 2019
So, what does it look like to open the digital front door for providers and patients? According to Trevor Brown, Vice President of Business Development at Relatient, the desire to facilitate access is not a new one but because “[w]e live in such a fast-paced world…we have been conditioned to expect things quickly and easily,” the pressure is now on for providers to open the digital front door and improve the patient journey.
#CMS made a big announcement this week and it’s fueling a lot of conversation at #HIMSS19. Here’s our take on what this means and who will lead the charge. #HealthIT #patientaccess https://t.co/7ONLWm4zFT
— RELATIENT (@Relatient) February 12, 2019
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