Attendee Blogs
We Need Doctors to Lean In and Lead In Health Tech
Bill Gates once said, “People overestimate how much will change in one year, and underestimate how much will change in five.”
We’re in the thick of that change today. Healthcare is navigating tumultuous times, and what we learn, what we invest in and how we incorporate what’s possible into practice now will lay the groundwork for the next generation of care delivery.
As a physician, when important new science is published, I read the articles, discuss with colleagues how the findings fit into the rest of the clinical picture, and adapt practice consistent with new information. To stay current, I need access to knowledge about what works, trusted colleagues to talk through how breakthroughs could be implemented in the day-to-day work, and an understanding of the cost/benefit to patients and the practice. For new science, I read the New England Journal, JAMA, and an array of newsletters to make sense of the overwhelming volume of published literature. But to stay on the cutting edge of rapidly changing healthcare technology, the pace of traditional peer reviewed journals needs a boost. To learn what’s new in health tech, network with trusted colleagues making sense of how new tools would work in practice, and understand the business case behind them, I go to HIMSS.
HIMSS attracts leading thinkers from healthcare, government, and technology companies from hyperscalers to entrepreneurs; seeing the latest and greatest breakthroughs on the showroom floor is eye opening into what’s possible. Even before ChatGPT launched, at HIMSS it was clear that AI’s time has come. The Physicians’ Executive Forum lets me network with clinicians from across the globe, seeing how they’re leading the clinical transformation of care delivery. The keynote sessions fill my cup, restoring hope and resilience to carry me through the tough work we’re all doing right now. And the main conference sessions are full of practical ideas from smart leaders to jumpstart the tech-enabled journey to optimize health and care.
We went into healthcare to help our patients live their best lives. As digital front doors, consumer-focused care delivery, and AI-enabled tools come to life, physicians must be involved in these investments to make our care ever better. We cannot and should not outsource those decisions; the choices we make today on the pace and scope of technology used will make a huge difference in how we care for patients in the future.
Join Me at HIMSS25
In our practices, our organizations, and across the industry, we are laying the groundwork today to set up the next generation of healthcare. I hope you’ll join me at HIMSS25, and help ensure those of us who have devoted their lives to improving health outcomes will have knowledge, voice, and influence in shaping our future.