By the Numbers: What I learned at the HIMSS10 Conference

Posted by: Peggy Salvatore

  

  

Results of a Health Data Management Poll 

  

 

 

Thursday Morning, last day of HIMSS10 March 4 

A: The stimulus program and I.T. vendors are getting it right. 11% 

 

B: Health I.T. is heading in the right direction, but I have a lot of questions. 33% 

 

C: I've glimpsed the future, and I'm terrified. 56% 

 

Monday Morning, after a weekend to think about HIMSS10 March 8 

A: The stimulus program and I.T. vendors are getting it right. 8% 

B: Health I.T. is heading in the right direction, but I have a lot of questions. 44%

C: I've glimpsed the future, and I'm terrified. 49%

 

HIMSS10 in Atlanta was huge. More exhibitors than in 2009, more attendees than in 2009.  And, in the wake of the passage of stimulus funds last year, more stimulus funds this year. After the announcements of rules and regs last year, more announcements of more rules and regs this year. So there was a lot to talk about at HIMSS10, and a lot of sessions to parse exactly what electronic health records mean for the average healthcare professional.

Clearly, the groundwork has been laid for electronic health records and this will happen. We are on an unalterable trajectory. For good or ill. And, let me state unequivocally, I am in the “for good” column.  That is, after all the dust settles, dollar bills float to the ground, and physicians get hair plugs to replace all the hair they have pulled out in the process.

I refer you to the HIMSS10 poll above. It reflects the offsides conversations I had with exhibitors, presenters, and attendees. Exhibitors are excited about the solutions they have to offer, presenters know what it will take to implement the kinds of change they are discussing – such as compliance and standards for the IT solutions available – and attendees were trying to absorb the range of equipment, issues, and regulatory minefields they would have to traverse to make this happen in their corner of the world.

To sum up the poll: Roughly 10% think we’ve got this under control. Less than half think we know what we’re doing but they don’t. And another half are just plain baffled.

Yes, that’s what I saw, and here it is, reflected in the numbers. We need to get assistance to the 90 percent who require it, some of it in the form of answers and about half in the form of emergency care.

Comments

[David Williams]

Nice summary...I could not make it this year but I think from all I talked to who went, you are right on target with your assessment. :)