Security

HIMSS 2017: Cyberthreats a Growing Priority for Healthcare Organizations

IT security and improving the patient experience are among the many topics that will be explored at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s annual conference.

Dan Bowman

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Dan is an editor focusing on healthcare technology. His experience includes stints with newspapers including the Washington Post and the Washington Times.

Battling cyberthreats is becoming big business in healthcare.

More than 85 percent of provider organizations responding to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s 2016 Cybersecurity Survey called IT security a growing business priority. What’s more, according to the Thales 2017 Data Threat Report, 81 percent of responding IT security executives at healthcare organizations said they plan to increase spending on such efforts over the next 12 months.

To that end, cybersecurity will be priority highlighted at the HIMSS 2017 Conference & Exhibition this month in Orlando, Fla. Not only is HIMSS is not only co-presenting (with the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives) an all-day Cybersecurity Forum on Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando with the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, but also it also will will feature feature a Cybersecurity Command Center on the show floor at the Orange County Convention Center throughout the week.

In addition to cybersecurity, improving the patient experience will be a focus of speakers and for attendees at the conference. IBM Chairman, President and CEO Ginni Rometty will open the conference Monday with a keynote address on how data analytics and cognitive computing are pushing medicine to increasingly personalized levels.

Meanwhile, Kenneth S. Smith, a senior research scholar and director of the mobility division at the Stanford Center on Longevity, will talk with CDW Healthcare Senior Care Strategist Ginna Baik about new research coming out of from his organization that examines the potential of wearables to improve care to aging populations. In addition, Holy Redeemer Health System Chief Experience Officer Christine Holt will discuss how her organization is taking advantage of technology to enhance its patient engagement initiatives with Nancy Ragont, senior manager of customer insights for CDW Healthcare.

HealthTech will cover HIMSS17, digging into panel discussions and educational sessions, while also interviewing industry executives and experts on the most current health IT trends. Bookmark this page for stories and videos from the HealthTech team, and be sure to keep up with conference conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #HIMSS17, as well as these other hashtags shared by HIMSS.

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