CONFERENCE REPORT Interoperability at the HIMSS

CONFERENCE REPORT
Interoperability at the HIMSS Conference
Suzette Palis Dela Cruz-Regalo
The word ‘interoperability’ was frequently mentioned in my
university health informatics classes. It was simply a word,
a concept that stayed and echoed around the lecture halls.
Some days, the idea of interoperability continued to linger
up in the air, distancing itself, with the help of a few fairies,
further from my understanding; that is, until I attended the
Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
Conference in Orlando, Florida as a Program Assistant,
supported by HIMAA.
HIMSS is a global, cause-based, not-for-profit organisation
focused on better health and care outcomes through the uses
and improvements of IT. Headquartered in Chicago, HIMSS
expands its reach with several branches throughout the world.
Australia is embraced by the HIMSS Asia Pacific Office, whose
goal is to serve our health IT community and implement the
assistance that is uniquely required within our region.
The 2014 Conference, held from 22 - 27 February in
Orlando’s Orange County Convention Centre, was a massive
event: it provided delegates with both excellent opportunities to network with over 30,000 industry professionals, and
access to a premium exhibition hall which featured over 1,000
healthcare IT companies.
Last November (2013), I submitted an essay to the HIMSS
annual conference event coordinators, applying for the
position of student program assistant. A program assistant’s
general responsibilities include providing programmatic and
administrative support, helping prepare showcases or presentations and ensuring the fluidity and functionality of events. I
wanted to grasp this opportunity to work, learn and manage
events on an international level and observe latest EHR
34
developments, so I was overjoyed when my application was
successful.
My orientation commenced upon arrival at the Convention
Centre. I was pleasantly surprised to meet the 50 other
student program assistants, some of whom were studying
double master’s degree programs, and a few who were
studying for their doctorates. The program assistants at the
conference were divided into four groups, with a majority
handling education sessions, others in logistical support, some
maintaining the main exhibition hall and a few, like myself, who
were responsible for manning the interoperability showcase.
The showcase, in collaboration with Integrating the Healthcare
Enterprise (IHE), was a live demonstration that aimed to help
consumers and clinicians understand how the harmonious
usage of technology is imperative to managing health problems
in any setting.
The showcase is an expansive tour spanning a large floor
of 36,000 square feet, with 22 vignettes centred around the
hypothetical ‘Gorden-Smith’ family, who have been involved
in a serious car accident. All vignettes are colour coded and
spread around the sides of the hall, where tours occur, cycling
through the events. Each set of vignettes displays the four
related healthcare stories that correspond with the four family
HIM-INTERCHANGE Vol 4 No 3 2014 ISSN 1838-8620 (PRINT) ISSN 1838-8639 (ONLINE)
members in the car crash: Charles Gorden;
Jane Smith; Rachel Smith; and John Smith.
The story projects four underlying themes
that tie in with the harnessing of technology
at each step of the patient’s journey. These
are: (a) continuity of care; (b) improving
care outcomes through innovative solutions;
(c) seamless information exchange; and (d)
engaging consumers to realise their health
goals.
Unlike other exhibits, the companies and
technologies involved within the interoperability showcase must work cooperatively and
with synergy to deliver the correct information to the right patient in a timely manner.
Our team was given an overview and tour of
the showcase by Elizabeth Peters, Associate
Manager, and Sandy Vance, Senior Director of
the Interoperability Initiatives.
My personal thoughts are that, while here
in Australia we are still struggling with the
uptake of EHRs, the other side of the world
is already focused on meeting healthcare
standards to ensure that interoperability is
the prime consideration. There is no questioning about whether one’s personal health
data or information needs to be electronically available - this is already a given.
The days at the conference seemed long
but the work was very exciting and educational. I gained clarity on the physical and
practical aspects of interoperability. Hospitals
will not purchase gadgets solely from one
company nor adhere to a single ‘brand’ of
equipment; therefore technology has to exist
where all ‘gizmos’, regardless of the manufacturer or operating system, can communicate
with each other seamlessly. I observed how
more than 100 companies on the ‘interoperability bandwagon’ work together, to ensure
their products do likewise.
I was grateful for the opportunity to network with the other student
program assistants who provided me with an insight into their studies, and
the similarities and differences between our countries within the context of
health and education. There was a significant trend of furthering studies to the
doctorate level as evidenced by many of the students whom I met. Some were
sub-specialising further in health information management areas such as data
privacy and security, data warehousing, information governance and interoperability. My experience in this interaction with people of such high calibre, coming
from Canada, the UK and the USA, would not have been possible if not for the
high quality education I am receiving from La Trobe University. Class discussions
here are always contemporary, engaging and every word from the lecturer is
always worth jotting down. It is amazing what is learnt when the fairies are on
their day off!
It was great to get a glimpse of what the future of EHRs might be like for us.
It was a privilege, for six days, to imagine the ideal Australia that will have health
systems that can communicate all of these data and that no matter where we
go, our health records are accessible and all information needed is available,
ready to help practitioners treat us and deliver the best health care possible.
Acknowledgement
The author wishes to acknowledge the support provided by HIMAA, which
assisted her to attend this educational and inspiring conference.
Suzette Palis Dela Cruz-Regalo, BSN, RN
Student - Master of Health Information Management Program
Faculty of Health Sciences
La Trobe University
Bundoora 3086 VIC
AUSTRALIA
HIM-INTERCHANGE Vol 4 No 3 2014 ISSN 1838-8620 (PRINT) ISSN 1838-8639 (ONLINE)
35