Pay Attention to Mobile Health at HIMSS '12
By Brenna Hagy
HIMSS 2012 is right around the corner, and healthcare IT (HIT) companies are revving their engines to make the most of their time at the show. The Schwartz MSL Healthcare IT Practice Group spoke with Eric Wicklund, one of the industry’s top trade reporters. Eric is the editor at the newly launched mHIMSS website. He shared with us what he is looking forward to at the show and what topics and trends he’ll cover.
1. What are you most looking forward to at HIMSS 2012?
HIT X.0, a sub-conference that will showcase some emerging mobile technologies, is sure to feature and attract the movers and shakers in healthcare. Also, the Exhibit Hall floor will offer an array of new and exciting tools and services. The Interoperability Showcase should also be interesting.
2. What sessions are you looking to attend?
I’m looking forward to any and all tracks and other sessions having to do with mobile health, including those dealing with telehealth and telemedicine. I’m particularly interested in sessions examining how mHealth tools may be adopted to improve clinical workflow, and monitor and treat people with chronic conditions.
3. What spurred the creation of the new mHIMSS website?
MedTech Media has been exploring the mobile health/telehealth market for two years and had identified it as a growing interest in the healthcare field. Combining our editorial expertise with the newly formed mHIMSS group seemed like a natural fit. The healthcare landscape of the future will rely more and more on new methods for delivering care and making sure it’s effective, and mobile health tools and telehealth will be at the forefront.
4. Which topics and trends will you be covering on the new site?
Mobile health technology and practices, telehealth and telemedicine will be the three main topics. We will also focus on emerging and best practices, trends, consumer and professional applications, home-based healthcare, health and wellness tools, medical devices, grants, research and public policies, international programs, infrastructure, interoperability and data exchange, privacy and security.
5. Do you think mHealth will be one of the top three trends at the 2012 show?
It’s a fast-growing trend, as evidenced by the number of mobile health and telehealth tools and projects seen in the Exhibit Hall at HIMSS11 in Orlando. Between educational tracks, the social media pavilion and HIT X.0 at HIMSS12, it’s safe to say mobile health will be one of the most discussed aspects of 2012.
6. If you could tell mHealth vendors one thing, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to be creative and experimental. The healthcare landscape of tomorrow will differ greatly from what we’re seeing today, with a shift away from facility-based care and toward mobile, home-based and telehealth care. Anything that can help the provider adapt to this new healthcare paradigm will be greatly appreciated.
HIMSS even has a mHIMSS track planned this year and Eric will be moderating a couple of panel discussions—take a break from the slots and check them out!
Schwartz MSL has created a Road to HIMSS 2012 Planning Guide to help you navigate the PR and marketing opportunities at the show, and give you useful advice on strategy, a timeline to help you plan ahead and even some tips on other fun things to do in Vegas. For further advice or information on how Schwartz MSL can partner with you, please contact Dave Close or Doug Russell in our Boston office at 781-684-0770, or Shannon Murphy in our San Francisco office at 415-512-0770, or send an email to healthcareIT@schwartzmsl.com.
Posted by Davida Dinerman on January 13, 2012 at 12:29 PM
