No one will ever accuse Kaiser Permanente CMIO John Mattison, MD, of shirking the big questions or thinking small.

As the foundation of his opening keynote address at the HIMSS Media and Healthcare IT News Big Data & Healthcare Analytics Forum in Boston on Nov. 20-21, Mattison will address an issue that marries philosophy, antiquity, science and a profound concern for improving the health and welfare of mankind: How do we use modern technologies to restore fitness, mindfulness, empathy, and the other ancient wisdoms that have long been associated with longer, healthier lives? 

One way, he says, is to use big data and predictive analytics to provide the information we need to support healthy decisions in our daily lives and to create a healthcare system that is proactive and not reactive.

“This is how the digital world will shape the future of human evolution,” Mattison said.

Mattison’s keynote will kick off the two-day forum, which will present 30 expert speakers from such respected healthcare organizations as Seattle Children’s Hospital, Partners HealthCare, Department of Veterans Affairs, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Johns Hopkins University, Advocate Healthcare, Carolinas Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School.

These industry leaders will share best practices, cases studies, peer-to-peer learning and expert insights into how healthcare organizations are currently using analytics to mine data to improve care, patient safety, financial performance and administrative decision-making. 

“That is the goal of the forum,” said Mike Moran, program director. “We’ll have big-picture keynote presentations that provide perspective and examine the power and promise of analytics to transform healthcare, but the core of the program will be practical and actionable. Attendees will learn exactly how their peers are successfully using analytics. There will be a lot of valuable information shared – including an emphasis on low-cost solutions – that attendees can take home and put to use. “

Some of the forum’s 22 presentations and speakers include:

• Niall Brennan, CMS, acting director of the Offices of Enterprise Management – “How CMS is Using Big Data to Spur Healthcare Transformation”
• Michael Dulin, MD, chief clinical officer for analytics outcomes research, Carolinas Healthcare System – “Turning Big Data into Better Care”
• George Beauregard, DO, SVP, chief clinical officer, PinnacleHealth System – “Case Study: Using Predictive Analytics to Reduce COPD Readmissions”
• Tina Esposito, vice president, center for health information services, Advocate Health Care – “Population Health 2.0: Bending the Cost Curve by Moving Beyond the Pyramid”
• Christine VanZandbergen, associate CIO of clinical applications, Penn Medicine – “Case Study: Using Predictive Analytics to Reduce Sepsis Mortality”
• Suchi Saria, assistant professor of computer science, Johns Hopkins University  – “Big Data Opportunities for Managing High-Risk, High-Cost Patients”
• James Colbert, MD, Instructor of medicine, Harvard Medical School – “Low-Hanging Fruit: Analytics Best Practices for Physician-Lead ACOs”
• Suki Wright, director of organizational excellence and innovation, Schneck Medical Center – “Case Study: Using Analytics to Right Size Staff”
• Stephan Fihn, MD, director, office of analytics and business intelligence, VA – “Lessons Learned From Advanced Analytics at the VA”
• Ayad Shammout, director, data platform & business intelligence, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center – “A Hadoop and BI Solution that Anyone Can Implement”

The forum includes a networking reception from 5:45-7 p.m. on Nov. 20, and multiple other opportunities to interact with attendees, sponsors and speakers. It will be held at the Westin Waterfront, Boston.

Learn more at http://www.bigdatahitforum.com