As a first-time attendee, Marc Dolitsky discovered how attending the NJDVHIMSS conference offered invaluable insights into emerging health IT trends, underscored the importance of entrepreneurial thinking, and created rich networking opportunities with peers and vendors.
Why I Chose to Attend the NJDVHIMSS Conference
As a new member of DVHIMSS, I am eager to dive deep into this professional organization as part of my professional development journey. Connecting with colleagues in my local region is invaluable as I advance my career in health informatics. This event piqued my interest, especially because it featured presentations and keynotes that aligned with the projects I am currently tackling.
Planning Lessons Learned
Register early! My late booking attempt resulted in a sold-out hotel. Fortunately, I secured a room at a nearby hotel connected by an indoor skywalk to the conference venue. I packed essentials like my iPad, pen, paper, water, and chargers in a small bag, and the swag bags from vendors proved handy for collecting all the other items.
Networking Highlights
The conference offered fantastic opportunities to connect with professionals from various healthcare and health tech sectors. Despite working in different areas, we discovered common challenges and shared solutions. We discussed the disconnect between “operations” and “IT” and project management delays. We exchanged tips on project planning tools like Asana and Microsoft Project and how AI scribes, like Copilot, can enhance meeting notes and comparisons (a concept we’re now exploring at work!).
Business Cards: Still Going Strong
Ironically, traditional business cards remained the preferred method of exchanging information with vendors at a health IT conference. Having just started a new role without my business cards reminded me to prioritize ordering some for future networking endeavors.
LinkedIn Connections
LinkedIn emerged as a vital networking tool. Many conversations ended with connection requests, and LinkedIn’s feature to list connections by date helps keep track of follow-ups. Vendors also used their phones to take notes or capture lanyard photos with details. The conference was a great platform to expand my network, business opportunities, and potential future roles. Updating your LinkedIn profile before attending conferences is always a good idea!
Vendor Interactions
Vendors were not just stationed at booths but were active participants, eager to understand market trends and expand their businesses. Engaging conversations with vendors covered their products and potential use cases for our needs. A colleague and I discovered a specific solution for a challenge at work, which was a significant win! The vendor range included consulting groups, software, privacy, security, regulatory technology products, hardware vendors, and local HIMSS chapters. Even if not all vendors met my immediate needs, understanding industry trends and available solutions was valuable.
Keynotes and Breakout Sessions
The conference featured a mix of keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions divided into three themes:
- Beyond Hospital Walls: Innovations to Expand the Care Horizon
- Healthcare Analytics & Interoperability: Using Data to Empower Clinicians and Patients
- Policy and Regulatory: Translating Process and Governance into Practice
These sessions were highly informative. They discussed the rise in consumer demand for personalized healthcare and the role of technology in meeting these demands. AI’s expanding role in healthcare was a significant topic, highlighting its potential for task automation and patient communication while noting the need for governance to prevent bias and inaccuracies. Discussions also included AI chatbots to solve the mental health worker shortage.
We learned how new hospital designs integrate technology to support patient flow, virtual checkouts enhance patient satisfaction, and remote patient monitoring connects patients and providers outside clinical visits. AI’s integration into patient records improves context for values like weight and blood pressure, enabling better navigation of care escalation.
Effective workflow management remains crucial for success with EMRs and technology-integrated care. Intentional EMR build and process improvements reduce providers’ documentation burdens, save significant time, and enhance provider engagement.
Key Takeaways
One keynote speaker emphasized that entrepreneurial thinking is essential to thriving in today’s healthcare landscape. We must be forward-thinking and recognize and understand market impacts on care delivery. We were left with the challenge of finding personal boards of advisors who would guide and challenge us in our careers.
By joining DVHIMSS and attending this conference, I gained access to a network of colleagues and mentors who broadened my perspectives, provided career growth opportunities, and kept me updated on informatics and health IT trends at both local and national levels. I look forward to continued engagement and highly recommend joining your local HIMSS chapter!
Reflections from Marc Dolitsky,
Director of Ambulatory Clinical Informatics
Temple Health