Healthcare information and technology professionals gathered in Las Vegas in early March for the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Global Conference & Exhibition to double down on the latest healthcare technology trends. In case you missed the conference this year, we thought we’d give you a casino advantage and deal out our top three takeaways from HIMSS 2018.
1. There’s A Difference Between Compliance and Security
The Identity Theft Resource Center recently reported that healthcare was the second most breached sector in 2017 with 374 breaches accounting for 23.7 percent of total reported breaches. So it’s no surprise cyber security took center stage at HIMSS 2018 with a full-day forum on the topic. With stakes this high, panelists and attendees agreed, compliance is not security. While being compliant is a key step, security is not just a checkbox approach. There must be support from the board-level down, and security best practices must be spread throughout the organization. To encourage organizations to take a security-first mindset, Wind River developed the Advanced Security Package (ASP). ASP presents a customized solution of security tools to help mitigate risk, assist with certifying PCI DSS compliance and help ensure your business is secure.
2. Cloud Computing. Cloud Computing Everywhere
Cloud technology was another healthcare technology trend regularly mentioned by presenters and discussed by attendees across the conference. HIMSS research concluded that many users found the cloud more effective at mitigating security risk. Before moving to the cloud, however, it is imperative to understand data governance and have a mature security model. As health systems continue to embrace cloud services, it is essential to actively manage cloud security strategies and call on experts to guarantee security.
3. Amazon, Apple and Uber Roll the Dice on Healthcare
Amazon, Apple and Uber recently announced they are making their way into healthcare, which made for popular discussion among the professionals at HIMSS. Each of these massive tech companies has its own exciting innovation to bring to the table: Amazon offering group purchasing, Apple providing employee clinics and Uber contributing transportation to hospitals. While these announcements are definitely disrupting the healthcare industry, they may not have hit the jackpot quite yet considering all of these ideas are already being covered in an existing format. Like many others technology trends, we’re skeptical about just how much these companies will revolutionize the healthcare industry, but we’re also excited about the push for innovation and adoption of new technologies.
The immense knowledge shared at HIMSS made everyone a winner. From cyber security to new technology and innovations, healthcare technology trends are advancing to improve the patient experience and keep data safe. At Wind River, we stay on top of these trends to mitigate risk, keep patient information secure and improve the overall patient experience.
