Networking HIMSS15, On-site and on Social
Each year the HIMSS Annual Conference & Exhibition brings together over 38,000 healthcare IT professionals to showcase and discuss the newest HIT trends and technologies. A five day seminar filled with fun activities, like cocktail receptions and block parties, the HIMSS conference offers great networking opportunities, both in person and on social media.
Special HIMSS15 Gatherings
In addition to conference-wide gatherings that will happen throughout the week, there are plenty of smaller gatherings happening at exhibitor booths.
Billian’s HealthDATA and Porter Research will host clients, partners and fellow exhibitors at booth #2045 for cocktails and appetizers on on Tuesday, April 14th, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM CT.
Back by popular demand, Divurgent will be hosting their “Trivia Charity Drive!” Make sure to visit them at booth #1891 to test your trivia skills, as well as help raise $5,000 for Lurie Children’s Hospital.
#HITchicks and #HITbros are invited to attend a reception at the HIMSS Spot Coffee Bar on April 14th, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM CT, in the North Hall B Lobby.
To discuss how social media influencers impact the health IT landscape, there will be a social media and influence meetup, hosted by those behind the #HITMChashtag. (Shout out to John Lynn!)
Participate on Social
Follow along on social before and during #HIMSS15 using popular hashtags to ensure you don’t miss any updates or information. Honing in on specific HIMSS15 hashtags cuts down some of the noise and increases the chances your content will be viewed.
The hashtag #WhymHealth will be popular and is supported by the Mobile Health Knowledge Center. This hashtag will host social conversations centered around health data, mobile devices, privacy and security concerns.
The Nursing Informatics Symposium is using the hashtag #Nurses4HIT to help spread the word on how nurses can help patients take advantage of health IT and other ways HIT can have a profound impact on the industry.
Interested in provider- and payer-focused best practices and other clinical and business intelligence topics like interoperability? Follow the hashtag #PutData2Work! You’ll see this hashtag being put to use at the Clinical & Business Intelligence Knowledge Center.
Lastly, you can check out #HIMSS15hacks: The Official HIMSS Hashtag Guide.
New This Year
Cybersecurity and innovation are taking the health IT industry by storm and will be popular themes at HIMSS this year. New to the conference is the HX360, which will spotlight next generation technologies and ways they can be used to improve healthcare. Also new this year is the Cybersecurity Command Center, where you can test your knowledge on cybersecurity. The CCC is using the hashtag #HITsecurity.
Given the Ebola outbreak, conference goers will also see the new Disaster Preparedness & Healthcare Exhibit, where they can learn how to manage external and internal emergencies. Patrons will also learn about contingency plans for natural and manmade disasters.
Due to the generosity of HIStalk and Regina Holliday of The Walking Gallery, five patient advocates will attend the conference this year through The HIS-talking Gallery patient scholarship. HIStalk provided each winner with $1,000 for transportation and HIMSS attendance costs, and Regina Holliday provided each winner with a painted jacket.
Each year brings new and exciting themes and technologies to the HIMSS conference. Test your annual HIMSS conference IQ here.