By Scott Thielman, Product Creation Studio CTO.

I had the chance for a whirlwind tour of HIMSS in Chicago this year. I decided to report back on some of the more interesting trends and discoveries.

The Healthcare Ecosystem in a Post-Pandemic World

My day started with the keynote on Healthcare Disruption: Accelerated Opportunities for Care Delivery Alternatives. Vin Gupta from Amazon Pharmacy and NBC News Medical Analyst (our favorite COVID-19 correspondent) moderated, so I had to pay attention.

The panel featured two health system execs, Andrea Walsh of Health Partners and Tim Barry of Village MD, along with the unexpected perspectives of Deborah Disanzo from Best Buy Healthcare. They talked about healthcare disruption and how the pandemic was a catalyst for change.

From telehealth to personal protective equipment, much of what we were doing before in healthcare just wasn't good enough anymore. In a sense, the pandemic’s timing could have been worse. Thanks to connectivity, emerging AI, sensors, and diagnostics, we can do so much more now than we could just a few years ago.

While there are big challenges ahead, the panel agreed it’s a great time to be an innovator in healthcare!

Best Buy isn’t the first company I think of related to healthcare disruptors, but they are doing some really interesting stuff. They want to apply what they have learned about the logistics of home electronics sales and support to the field of healthcare.

Imagine their GeekSquad coming to your house armed with monitors, infusion pumps, diagnostics etc. Not only will they deliver and pick up the equipment, they will make sure it is properly charged, commissioned and ready to go, alleviating the burden on home health patients and caregivers.

But Andrea and Tim reminded us that the US Healthcare system is still pretty sick. In fact, our healthcare system is really not a system at all. It's more like this patchwork of different silos, each trying to improve its own systems but not necessarily organized for success as a whole. They suggest that we need to make care simpler to access and more affordable, and we need to think about how we can take care of patients where they are, whether that's at home, in a clinic, or at the hospital.

So let's focus on making things better for the patient, not just optimizing our own little silos.

We must consider delivering care and love with more touches and provider interactions. And hey, maybe these next five years will bring even more access, improved care, and reduced costs. A conference the size of HIMSS is where innovators can dream big.

Quantum Computing

As fast as care delivery evolves, it can’t keep up with quantum computing advancements. 

One of the unanticipated highlights at the event was a talk on quantum computing in healthcare by Dr. Frederik Flöther of Quantum Basel and Nouamane (Numan) Laanait of Carelon Digital Platforms.

Quantum computing is a revolutionary new approach that allows quantum computers to perform certain calculations exponentially faster than classical computers, making them particularly well-suited for solving complex problems in areas such as cryptography, chemistry, and optimization.

However, quantum computing is still in its early stages and faces significant technical challenges, such as maintaining the fragile quantum state of qubits and minimizing errors.

In addition, once we get access to larger quantum computers, we had better upgrade our security measures. “Passw0rd123” is not going to cut it anymore, as these systems may be able to hack most modern security measures in short order.

Patient privacy advocates take note; we need to be quantum-ready within the next decade.

Despite these challenges, though, quantum computing can potentially transform many areas of science and technology in the coming decades.

Cybersecurity

Wandering through the exhibition hall pointed out the growing focus on cybersecurity as a significant portion of the hall was dedicated to the Cybersecurity Command Center.

The area provided a platform for emerging (and more established) companies to showcase their cybersecurity services and tools to potential clients.

Among the types of companies exhibiting their cybersecurity services and tools at the HIMSS conference were IT security companies, managed security service providers (MSSPs), and cybersecurity consulting firms. These companies offer a range of services, such as network security, endpoint protection, threat intelligence, risk management, and compliance consulting.

Additionally, many of these companies offer cloud-based solutions and managed security services that help healthcare organizations protect sensitive data and comply with regulatory requirements.

Health Equity

Finally, I attended a session on health equity.

This has become a hot topic as healthcare examines itself for ways that institutional and cultural bias creep into the organizations and, ultimately, the care delivery.

Many of us are still trying to understand what health equity really means, so maybe it was appropriate that the session consisted simply of coffee and some rooms to meet and discuss. 

The topic in the room I chose was LGBTQ+ issues. Perhaps due to the proximity of Madison, WI, to Chicago, Epic Systems Inc. was well represented. We discussed the challenges of entering data into forms with the historical groupings of race and gender so pervasive. The data we have today impacts the strategic decisions of tomorrow, so it is not so simple to collect personal data in an unbiased way.

My biggest takeaway from this session was just the satisfaction that people from different backgrounds, ages, and gender associations wanted to take an hour and discuss, regardless of who showed up.

Transformative Trends Shaping the Future of Healthcare

HIMSS 2023 proved to be a dynamic and enlightening event, showcasing the transformative trends shaping the future of healthcare.

The potential of emerging technologies, such as AI and diagnostics, in revolutionizing healthcare delivery. The conference highlighted emerging technologies, such as AI and diagnostics, in revolutionizing healthcare delivery and the need for a more integrated and patient-centric healthcare system while addressing challenges such as cybersecurity and health equity.

The discussions and innovations showcased at HIMSS 2023 fuel optimism for improved access, enhanced care, and reduced costs in the future of healthcare.