This episode of Talking HealthTech was recorded at HIMSS Global 2024 in Orlando, Florida.  Peter Birch spoke with over 20 different change makers and digital health experts about the current state of healthcare and the role technology plays in shaping its future. 

A select number of those interviews are featured in this podcast episode.  To catch all of the interviews, head over to our YouTube Channel.

Featured in this episode:

• Anne Snowdon, Chief Scientific Research Officer , HIMSS

• Don Woodlock, VP of Global Healthcare Solutions, InterSystems

• Lee Kim, Senior Principal of Cybersecurity and Privacy, HIMSS

• Eyal Zimlichman, Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Innovation Officer, Sheba Medical Center

• Dr Jigar Patel, Senior Director - Oracle Cloud Infrastructure - Product Management for Healthcare, Oracle Health

• Cherry Drulis, Director of Healthcare Mobile B2B, Samsung

• Kaveh Safavi, Senior Managing Director - Global Health, Accenture

• Tracy Mills & Nick Vass, CEO & President, J29 Inc

For even more interviews conducted by Talking HealthTech at HIMSS 24, head over to our YouTube channel for discussions with:

• Hans Buitendijk, Chair, Public Health Workgroup, Electronic Health Record Association

• Claire Reilly, Chief Nursing Informatics Officer VP Clinical Operations, Imprivata

• Mark Khalil , Vice President & Global Head of Oncology Insights, Roche Information Solutions, Roche

• Rhett Alden, Chief Technology Officer, Elsevier Health

• Lee Caswell, SVP Product and Solutions Marketing, Nutanix

• Jean-François Saint-Pierre, Program Manager for the World Health Data Hub, World Health Organization

• Vernon O’Donnell, President, Field Operations, Hypori

• Kel Pults, Chief Clinical Officer, MediQuant

• Manny Krakaris, CEO, Augmedix

• Nick Stepro , Chief Product & Technology Officer, Arcadia

• Vijay Adapala, EVP of Global Supply Partnerships, Doceree

• Brandi Meyers, VP of Revenue Operations, MDClone

• Kim Perry, Chief Growth Officer, emtelligent

Digital Transformation: Crafting Patient-Centric Healthcare

The evolution of healthcare is propelled by the continuous integration of technology, fundamentally reshaping the delivery and management of healthcare services. This transformation, driven by innovation, seeks to address the growing challenges faced by healthcare professionals and patients alike. In this episode of Talking HealthTech, leaders and innovators gathered at the HIMSS Global 2024 event in Orlando, Florida, sharing their insights into the development of a healthcare system that is both technologically advanced and patient-centric.

Data Analytics and Clinician Wellness

Data analytics has the potential to impact healthcare resource allocation significantly and reduce clinician burnout. It serves as a powerful tool for enhancing healthcare delivery, improving patient outcomes, and driving operational efficiencies within the healthcare system. In an era where the demands on healthcare professionals are intensifying, leveraging data for smarter decision-making is not just an asset; it's a necessity. As Kaveh Safavi, Senior Managing Director at Accenture, highlighted, "We must utilise data to empower our healthcare workforce, alleviating the burden, and enabling improved patient care." 

The utilisation of data extends into clinical settings where efficiency gains are paramount. Healthcare workers are often challenged by the administrative aspects of their roles, leading to a decrease in productivity. Data analytics enables a smarter approach to these tasks, potentially easing the workload and freeing valuable time for patient interaction.

Interoperability and Unified Data Sharing

Interoperability and data sharing can present significant challenges in healthcare systems. Electronic discharge summaries are just one example where the seamless flow of information is critical. The adoption of healthcare standards like FHIR is essential for a unified approach to data sharing, thereby improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. 

Don Woodlock, VP at InterSystems, championed the use of FHIR standards, emphasising their superiority in facilitating on-demand access to patient data. "Leveraging modern standards like FHIR is not just about keeping up with technology; it's about ensuring the best possible care for patients through timely and accurate data exchange," 

Innovative Mobile Solutions for Clinicians

With the increasing mobile nature of our lives, healthcare is no exception. Mobile solutions are streamlining workflows for clinicians, offering secure communication, easy access to medical records, and efficient medication review. Cherry Drulis, Director of Healthcare Mobile B2B at Samsung, spoke of the company's commitment to creating a meaningful impact within healthcare through innovation and partnership, saying, "Our work goes beyond devices; it's about creating an ecosystem that supports better patient care."

Samsung's mobile technology aims to enhance care efficiency and enable decentralised clinical trials, keeping the focus on patient engagement and care team communication. The mobile revolution in healthcare is ushering in a new era of efficiency and improved care delivery.

The Impact of AI and Automation on Healthcare Jobs

The discussion around AI in healthcare often revolves around its impact on jobs within the industry. The fundamental transformation of work roles, especially in the context of scaling human capacity through technology, is an inevitable shift. Kaveh Safavi pointed out the significant potential for AI to augment tasks and alleviate the strain on healthcare workers. 

"Artificial intelligence has enormous capacity to transform healthcare not by replacing jobs, but by reshaping them," Safavi stated. This statement reflects the idea that technology is not a harbinger of job loss, but rather an evolution of the workforce to better meet the needs of a complex, demanding healthcare environment.

Human-Centric Technology for Vulnerable Populations

Despite the excitement surrounding emerging technologies, Anne Snowdon of HIMSS flagged a pressing concern: healthcare innovations may unintentionally widen disparities among populations. The focus must remain keen on ensuring that advancements are inclusive, particularly in digitally less advanced hospitals. 

"Any digital transformation strategy must foremost address the requirements of those it serves, starting with the patients themselves," Snowdon emphasised. It's crucial to approach tech-driven initiatives in healthcare with a comprehensive understanding of and sensitivity to the full spectrum of societal needs.

The Fusion of Clinical Insight and Technology

Throughout the HIMSS event, the recurring theme was the synergy between clinical expertise and technological innovation. This fusion promises to advance the healthcare field in ways that prioritise patient outcomes while supporting those delivering care.

Lee Kim of HIMSS underscored the relationship between healthcare cyber security and the mindful adoption of technologies such as AI in patient care. The education of AI systems and the rigorous verification of models are as vital as the innovative leaps they represent. 

Generative AI: The Next Leap in Mental Health Care

The application of generative AI poses a groundbreaking potential in various healthcare domains, particularly mental health care. Dr Eyal Zimlichman from Sheba Medical Center discussed a conversational AI app that has demonstrated high accuracy in diagnosing and recommending treatment options. "Generative AI in healthcare offers a path forward in demystifying mental health and improving accessibility for all," Dr Zimlichman noted, reflecting on the transformative power of AI in offering support and enhancing clinical decisions.

The Drive Towards a Digitally Mature Healthcare System

The digital maturity of the healthcare system has become a focal point in discussions around the future of health. The slow adoption of new technologies, such as AI, presents barriers that industry leaders are eager to overcome. As the conversation with Anne Snowdon revealed, measuring the success of technological implementations must be centred on their impact on patient health and clinician experiences.

Collaboration: The Heart of Future Healthcare Innovation

The interviews at HIMSS reflected a clear demand for healthcare to embrace a more collaborative approach to innovation. Companies are moving towards multi-cloud environments, seeking greater interoperability in the electronic medical records space. As J29 Inc demonstrates through its partnerships in fraud, waste, and abuse detection within healthcare, cross-industry collaboration is essential for driving progress in this complex ecosystem.

Advancing Healthcare Together

As highlighted in this journey through the insights of healthcare leaders at HIMSS Global 2024, the amalgamation of clinical expertise, technology, and a collaborative ethos forms the foundation of tomorrow's health advancements. By fostering an environment that values human input and technological assistance in equal measure, we can pave the way towards a healthcare system that serves every individual with precision, compassion, and efficiency. It's a future where, as our guests envision, "the intersection of innovation and everyday healthcare ignites the potential to transform lives."