Healthcare Enters New Era After Pandemic - healthcare
Healthcare Enters New Era After Pandemic

HIMSS22 will explore how the pandemic reshaped health care, with the conference’s theme “Reimagine Health” reflecting a shift toward predictive, data‑driven care. The pandemic has been an accelerator, moving healthcare beyond the traditional encounter-based paradigm, and the Reimagine Health theme is a call to action for the industry to adapt and innovate. This shift is driven by the need to move away from reactive care and toward predictive health, both at the individual and population levels.

Conference details and expected attendance

The Global Health Conference & Exhibition runs March 14‑18 in Orlando, Florida, and will also be streamed via HIMSS22 Digital. Organizers anticipate a strong in‑person turnout as COVID‑19 case numbers fall, though safety protocols remain in place. The conference is expected to draw a diverse crowd, with attendees from around the globe, including North America and international locations, all of whom are eager to learn and understand the latest developments in healthcare.

Key speakers and topics

CEO Hal Wolf described the event as a “call to action” for moving away from reactive care toward predictive health at both individual and population levels. He said the shift is driven by “information, predictive algorithms” and cloud‑based services that support modeling for the next five to ten years. This emphasis on data-driven care is a key aspect of the Reimagine Health theme, and attendees can expect to learn more about the latest developments in this area from Wolf and other expert speakers.

Among the speakers, Ben Sherwood, former co‑chair of Disney Media Networks, will open with a talk titled “Daring Greatly: Leading and Succeeding in the Age of Disruption.” HIMSS executive vice president of Technology and Innovation Lisa Caplan will focus on “Digital Maturity: Germany’s Benchmark‑Setting National Hospital Assessment.” This discussion will provide valuable insights into the latest developments in digital health, including the use of electronic health records (EHRs) and other digital tools to support care delivery.

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International voices include Volker Amelung, president of the German Managed Care Association, and Professor Sylvia Thun of Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, who researches digital health, interoperability, and emergency medical care. These speakers will provide a unique perspective on the global response to the pandemic and the latest innovations in healthcare, highlighting the importance of international collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the face of global health challenges.

Wolf highlighted Europe’s progress, noting the EU’s push for meaningful use and funding of electronic health records (EHRs). Germany is conducting a nationwide survey of hospitals with EMRs and will repeat the assessment in 2023, while France adopts the EMRAN standard. The HIMSS Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM) continues to gauge EMR implementation worldwide, providing a benchmark for hospitals and health systems. This ongoing effort to assess and improve EHR adoption is critical to supporting the shift toward predictive, data-driven care.

The HIMSS22 conference will also explore the pandemic’s impact on healthcare strategies, with a focus on the closely linked relationship between individuals and health outcomes. This understanding will shape future health-care strategies, as the industry seeks to move beyond traditional reactive care models and toward more proactive, predictive approaches. By examining the latest developments in digital health, interoperability, and emergency medical care, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the complex factors that influence health outcomes and the ways in which healthcare can be reimagined to better support individuals and populations.

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve in response to the pandemic, the HIMSS22 Global Health Conference & Exhibition will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to learn from expert speakers, network with peers, and explore the latest innovations in healthcare. With its focus on Reimagine Health, the conference will support the industry’s efforts to adapt, innovate, and ultimately improve health outcomes for individuals and populations around the world. The conference’s emphasis on data-driven care, digital health, and international collaboration will be particularly important, as these factors will play a critical role in shaping the future of healthcare.