Trends in Review: Looking Ahead to HIMSS17

Each year, the HIMSS conference brings together the brightest health IT professionals, clinicians, c-suite executives and vendors to discuss cutting-edge innovations and developments in the industry. With HIMSS17 right around the corner, here are the top three trends that we’ll likely see dominating the headlines:

• Big Data and Analytics Will Continue to Push the Industry Forward – A recent poll conducted by Healthcare IT News shows that Big Data and Analytics will be two of the most talked about topics at HIMSS this year. This has been a continued trend as there have been major investments in this field. In fact, a recent IDC report found that the analytics market will reach $43 billion by 2020. Analytics is a crucial tool for healthcare organizations, as it offers them a holistic view of their patient’s outcomes and cost saving opportunities within their supply chain. Healthcare organizations are continuing to invest in solutions that lend insights to improve patient outcomes while keeping costs down.
• Revolutionize Data Sharing – Sharing data securely will continue to be a focal point as the industry continues to track towards quality outcomes for patients. Despite progress, this effort has not been met without challenges. In fact, 45 to 54 percent of physicians reported burnout from using EHRs. Many believe blockchain, which is a sequence of every transaction made in the patient’s history, is the solution. John Halamaka, chief information officer at Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, recently spoke about its potential and stated: “it’s the right time in our history to take a fresh approach to data sharing in health care.” The conference will shine light onto the industries willingness to work towards a new form of data sharing.  
• Staying Competitive via Payer-Provider Collaboration – As the industry becomes more patient-centric and value-driven, payers and providers will need to increase focus on collaboration. Patients are becoming even more engaged in their own healthcare and will look to providers who can offer the best value and experience for their service. Health plans, a recent Deloitte report noted, will need to harness advanced information technology to assist in important interactions with members to offer value. Through payer-provider collaboration, organizations will have the opportunity to stay competitive and achieve patient satisfaction.

Amidst new legislation and investment in the health IT sector, tracking towards value is full steam ahead. Payers and providers will need to invest in solutions that help them achieve the triple aim. If you plan on attending this year’s conference, make sure to stop by and visit us at MP34 to learn more about our cloud-based payer and provider tools that help uncover business insights for nearly 1,500 healthcare organizations.