4 Pre-HIMSS Conference Events to Watch Out For

The next HIMSS conference may seem like it’s a long way away, but as any experienced conference goer will tell you, getting the most out of your journey to healthcare IT’s annual showcase is an ongoing process. You won’t find success if you put off creating relationships, researching topics and being active in the HIMSS community until you’re on your way to Orlando. To help you get ready, we recommend partaking in some HIMSS events leading up to the conference. If you’re already a HIMSS member, here are five you don’t want to miss. If you’re not already a HIMSS member and are a USF Health student, you are eligible for a complimentary student membership!

HIMSS Early Careerist Webinar: Moving Up in Your Career – December 4 12 p.m.

Figuring out what comes next in your career is always a challenge, regardless of what stage you’re at. Whether your goal is to advance your position with your current organization or pursue a new opportunity elsewhere, knowing what to expect and what you need to do to make the move successful can help ensure you take the next step. The panelists on this webinar shared their insights on how they approached their own career growth. One of the panelists was Caroline Saavedra, a graduate of USF Health Online’s Master of Science in Health Informatics program. Learn how she parlayed her education and experience into a project management career at Moffitt Cancer Center. By listening to this webinar, you’ll learn more about finding ways to define career growth objectives and align them with opportunities in the market. See the pre-conference events

Healthcare Security Forum – December 9 & 10

At the HIMSS Healthcare Security Forum, attendees are surrounded by experts and colleagues who understand the challenges that security professionals take on every day. According to the HIMSS website, topics will include:

• The latest updates regarding emerging cyber threats
• How to make the most of existing technology investments
• Best practices on creating a “security-first” culture
• Strategies to fill talent gaps
• Creating a resilient security framework that supports organizational business goals and innovation.

Florida’s Telehealth- What You Need to Know – February 5 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

If you’re an active HIMSS member, it makes sense to get involved in your local HIMSS chapter to take all you learn from the broader organization and apply it to your work locally. For those of you belonging to the Central and North Florida chapter, this event will help you define and understand different aspects of telehealth, what it is and what it isn’t. Recent legislation regarding the use of telehealth in Florida will be covered and a special group of panelists will be on hand to answer any questions. The event will take place in the St. Pete College Health Education Center Auditorium located in Pinellas Park.

#HITsm Chats – Every Friday at Noon

If you’re active on Twitter, participating in a Twitter chat regarding issues in healthcare IT is a good way to connect with other professionals and to start thinking about things you want to learn more about at the conference. The chat #HITsm is a great place to start, with topics ranging from policy to process and even social issues. The chat occurs each Friday at noon and includes professionals from across the world. For a complete schedule of upcoming topics and to see what the questions for next week’s chat will be, visit Healthcare IT Today or search the hashtag HITsm on Twitter.