We see it happening. Innovative companies like dbMotion are connecting disparate systems across health care organizations. Other innovators, like Humedica (recently acquired by OptumHealth), are learning how to mine data for insights that will help physicians and care coordinators keep track of large panels of patients. Health care will soon be brimming with similarly exciting start-ups producing apps that change everything.

Medical apps that dial into electronic health records are finally starting to become ubiquitous. This will impact cost and quality in very significant ways. For example, a physician’s $199 iPhone device can avoid orders for $150 electrocardiograms. (See this video for a demonstration by Dr. Eric Topol). Or a wireless scale can notify a nurse when a congestive heart failure patient gains weight indicating dangerous fluid retention.

Think about wearing a device that allows your vital signs to be remotely monitored all the time, rather than at a once-a-year doctor visit. Pair that data with intelligence from IBM’s Watson, being used by innovative health-care organizations like Memorial Sloan Kettering to provide their teams with better information to provide better care, and the result is a whole new system of care.

Arthur C. Clarke said, “Technology, properly applied, is indistinguishable from magic.” It is the “applied” part of that dream we are still working on. But I’m confident we’ll get there. A connected system will help patients take responsibility for their health. Strong teams of physicians, nurses and caregivers will use an intelligent network to make their results better and their jobs easier. It does sound like magic. And we are getting closer each year. Just take a walk around HIMSS and you’ll see the future.

Published on Healthcare IT News with permission from Forbes.

A few days later, a postscript from Tullman, exclusive to Healthcare IT News:

HIMSS13 had more attendees, more interesting offerings, and more solutions than ever before. And, it was the first time I was able to spend so much time walking the floor as opposed to being focused on selling and clients.  I think I set a record on my FitBit.  
 
The big takeaway for me was that what I wrote about is really happening. Rival EHR systems are making plans to share data through the formation of the CommonWell Health Alliance. Six major EHR vendors, with more to come, are trying to speed up the transition to open standards. And connectivity, as demonstrated by Allscripts purchase of industry leading dbMotion, has become the next big thing. When I spoke with Farzad Mostashari, the dynamic leader of the Office of the National Coordinator, it was clear that Dr. Mostashari is passionate
about interoperability and will use the power of his office to push vendors to be good neighbors.

The other important trend attendees are starting to buzz about is the consumerization of healthcare. Patients will be asked to take a key role in their own health and a plethora of devices and services will help them do that. Connectivity, Consumer Engagement, and Coordinated Care will become the new buzzwords in this exciting and changing space.