The annual national meeting of the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has a lot to offer students, professionals, executives, vendors, speakers, public policy makers and healthcare providers.
But it’s also a great place for educators looking to build their brand of health IT education, discuss student and employer needs with professionals in the field and stay up to date on the latest industry trends.
For this reason, USF Health invests in the opportunity to send faculty to HIMSS each year. We caught up with Co-Director and Professor in the university’s Master’s of Science in Health Informatics and Healthcare Analytics programs, Dr. Athanasios Tsalatsanis, to see what he’s looking forward to at HIMSS18.
Q: As an educator, what is your favorite part of going to HIMSS?
There are several things I enjoy at HIMSS conferences. Most importantly, I appreciate the opportunity to try out new technology and learn how it is applied to healthcare. Additionally, I look forward to the learning sessions and presentations that help me catch up on latest research. And finally, the interaction with peers and HIT leaders discussing the future of the field.
Q: What opportunities do you feel a trip to HIMSS can provide that other conferences can’t?
One of the main differences between the HIMSS and other conferences I attend, is that HIMSS focuses on the application of technology to healthcare and provides access to live demos and examples. Other conferences are more academic oriented and focus on the theoretical aspect of health informatics.
Q: This year, USF will be participating in a Lightning Session. Tell us a little bit more about what that means and what you’re looking forward to in being a part of that.
I am excited to represent our master’s programs and provide an overview of what USF Health offers to our prospective students. I am looking forward to interacting with employers and students and learning more about their informatics and analytics needs.
Q: Are there any other education sessions or talks in particular at HIMSS 18 that you are looking forward to?
Yes, particularly those related to Data Analytics and Clinical and Business Intelligence such as: Data Visualization and Improving Quality Outcomes; Early Detection of Pediatric Sepsis; Driving Enterprise ROI by Eliminating Data Silos; Inappropriate Opioids, Adverse Outcomes and IT Solutions; and many more.
USF Health Online will be at HIMSS 18 on University Row! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram to stay tuned with what we’re doing at HIMSS 18!
