A tee-shirt poking fun at the Irishman….Green of Course, “An Irishman walks out of the Bar….No, really, it happened!”
Going from the smallest to the largest in less than 30 days? You see, I went from attending the Medicaid Innovations Forum Conference to the HIMSS13 Global Healthcare Technology Conference in New Orleans this week. One thing is for sure…..Healthcare Technology and Innovations are abound in all phases of the Point of Care healthcare delivery systems and processes. I get really energized about what we do, every year after returning from the annual HIMSS’s Conference! New stuff and techniques in technology and new business processes, to take back to our team members and improve our software and professional services offerings…..really good stuff!
We all know President Bill Clinton, he gave an outstanding and inspiring speech, as usual.” He sees our Healthcare systems as “broken.” Think about IT…..the President has been in government for decades and does a great job on the global stage. He serves the very poorest among us; with focus on Healthcare and nutrition in places like Indonesia, Haiti and parts of Africa. He’s right, IT is broken from where he sits……Government and third world counties, really? Instead of visiting the Exhibit Hall, at HIMSS13 to see new and exciting Healthcare IT technology and solutions, he attended a reception at James Carvell’s home.
Not a place to learn about technology in Healthcare.
On my drive home, seeing several sights and listening IT dawned on me. My Business and Social Communications Director stated earlier in the week, “you really like attending HIMSS and seems like your kind of place.” She was right! Only one Medicaid IT person I met, while in NOLA, was from the Medicaid Technology industry. I have been in Nashville, TN, Austin, TX and only 90 minutes from Bourbon Street the state sign entering MS states….”Mississippi, Birthplace of America’s Music.” While this may be true, try telling that to NOLA, Austin or Nashville.
Then there was my weekly Medicaid Innovations conference call, at 4 o’clock. I did not hear a word they said…..rural America does not have good cell phone technology, garbled, hearing every 5th word……You see, the very folks Medicaid IT is trying to serve, live in this type of rural area. This is where the poorest among us live and where Medicaid is trying to serve. I know I have an assignment for next week’s conference, I just don’t know what IT is.
Time to wrap up, as I have my weekly meeting with my partner, and it is usually with our sponsor. How do I take all of the innovations in software and solutions learned during the week long HIMSS13 event, to my Medicaid Technology Team? That is my job! I will get them motivated, drive excitement and innovation into all the software and professional serves we develop and deliver to State Government’s Medicaid Technology Enterprise….and one day we will proudly say with honestly and conviction………
“No, Really, IT Happened” …… in Medicaid Technology services and solutions!
Thomas Derrick, President
MariChris, LLC
MariChris LLC: March 8, 2013 Healthcare and IT News
Wrapped up the HIMSS 2013 conference in New Orleans yesterday. A lot of great ideas for healthcare innovation at the conference – and a rousing keynote speech by former President Bill Clinton!
Here’s other news from around the world of healthcare and IT – week ending…
++ ONC releases RFI on catalyzing interoperability of EHRs at HIMSS13
++ CMS calls for comments on HIEs
++ Ten Technology Trends Facing Hospital Execs In 2013
++ Feds outline 2013 plans, goals for information exchange, Meaningful Use
++ Health IT Summit in San Francisco March 26-27
++ “My Top Healthcare IT Concerns for 2013”
Have a great weekend. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward Saturday night!
Thomas Derrick, President
MariChris, LLC