Healthcare leaders are looking for innovative solutions in a landscape that seems to get more sophisticated with each passing day. Where could this research be conducted if it were held at a conference like HIMSS25, where thousands of specialized healthcare professionals and exhibitors are present?
At HIMSS25 in Las Vegas, participants may expect to hear from leading industry experts on innovative solutions in AI, security, health capital and more. Speakers may provide employ cases and methods in these subject areas to help leaders navigate their organizations in a year filled with uncertainty.
Visitors of preconference classes on March 3 and 4 will have the opportunity to network with peers and prospective partners while learning about a range of topics, including using <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/healthtechanalytics/feature/Exploring-the-role-of-AI-in-healthcare-risk-stratification”>AI in risk management and using digital health solutions for indigenous citizens.
Albe Zakes, director of corporate communications for HIMSS, shows what to expect at HIMSS25.
What are some of the most important issues for HIMSS25?
Albe Zakes: The essential topics at HIMSS25 reflect the key topics that are top of mind for all health and technology professionals: Things like security, of course, artificial intelligence and its applications in care, as well as things that get a little more detailed into the wellness industry itself, connectivity, which is the exchange of client data and health data between health systems, the use of smart technology in hospitals, as well as policy issues. We’ll have world leaders in North America and all over the world, but policy issues will also be on everyone’s minds.
But, surely, the two major ones that we’re focused on and excited about at HIMSS25 are cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and those are items that are top of mind for everyone in the global health ecosystem right now.
What aspects of the conference’s 2025 focus on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence will be unique?
Zakes: We’re looking forward to having two preconference forums that will address each of those topics. We’ll have the AI in Healthcare Forum as well as the Healthcare Cybersecurity Forum on Monday, which is the preconference day because the official kickoff is Tuesday. Both of those events will provide an opportunity to research these particular subjects in depth.
In all of these subjects, it’s crucial to keep in mind patients. Technology is the’ how.’ Technology is how we drive digital health transformation. It’s how we improve care delivery. But the’ why’ is patients. Everything we’re doing is about protecting patients, benefiting patients and improving patient outcomes. When it comes to cybersecurity, making sure that we’re able to grow trust with patients and protect patient data is critical as we continue to look at , especially against health organizations.
Additionally, there will be some outstanding AI panels. A variety of leaders from different health systems are doing a panel called,’ Dear AI Vendors, This Is What We Need.’ There is a disconnect between what technology companies are developing AI applications and what the clinicians and health system leaders who actually use the technology want. That’s going to be an interesting conversation.
Additionally, panels that cover real-time analytics and monitoring, how AI can be used in practice, live reports and insights from those who use large-language model applications and live data streams for specialty and specific care optimization are included. Because it will demonstrate how to use AI-powered language models and adapt solutions to meet the needs of patients, this will be an interesting presentation.
This year, with the healthcare industry and public policy in flux, there are many unknowns. How might the conference aid healthcare executives in navigating this uncertainty?
Zakes: We don’t necessarily know what policy will look like in a month, six months, or a year, but what you can control are the technologies you are using in your hospitals, health systems, and other new technologies that you are adapting to. The HIMSS conference will be very valuable to both the industry and the attendees at that point. It’s going to help highlight: ‘ Here’s what we can focus on.’
The best strategy for battling the unknowns is to lean into the things you do know, then. And so, in those spaces– again, interoperability, workforce development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence– what we can do is help clinicians, executive leaders and technology partners to collaborate, work together, network, share insights and fix the problems that we have at hand. In the future, we’ll have to see what comes from government regulations and policies. However, what we can do at this time is to improve the quality of our care and the level of service we offer our patients.
What else should conference attendees be on the lookout for this year?
Zakes: I definitely want to highlight our exhibit floor. We’re going to have close to 1, 000 different exhibitors, so that’s where you’re going to see the cutting-edge technology.
And one thing that we’re doing that’s new this year is a First-Time Exhibitors Pavilion. Obviously, an exhibit floor with 1, 000 exhibitors, even over the course of a couple of days, is difficult to navigate. So, one thing we wanted to do was to create an area for first-time exhibitors. The New Exhibitor Pavilion will be a great opportunity to introduce people to technology partners and service providers that they have never heard from before because many of our exhibitors have returned year after year.
Going back to HIMSS, HIMSS is a nonprofit organization, and our real goal, our vision and our mission are all about health equity. We talk, again, a lot about technology. I mentioned earlier how technology is the’ how,’ but the’ why’ is our patients, and that really goes back to health equity. It expands access to healthcare in North America and other parts of the world. To that end, we’re excited to have a preconference forum focused specifically on health equity where we’ll hear from health equity leaders, from federal and local agencies, healthcare organizations, community-based nonprofits, as well as academics, on how we can help promote fair and equitable access to healthcare for all people.
Editor’s note: This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Kelsey Waddill is the multimedia manager at Xtelligent Healthcare and the managing editor of Healthcare Payers. She has covered news about health insurance since 2019.