Healthcare’s future is tied to technology – and that makes it critical for even executives in jobs that are not traditionally tech-savvy to play an integral role in planning for the future.

That’s the view from the experts at HX360, a new initiative by Healthcare IT News parent HIMSS and consulting firm AVIA that hopes to open a dialogue about innovation to all manner of healthcare leaders.

“The only way to change healthcare in our lifetime is to capitalize on the digital revolution – with the caveat that you can’t really innovate if you don’t know the tools,” said Roy Smythe, MD, chief executive of HX360 and chief marketing officer at AVIA.

And that’s where HX360 aims to help.

Smythe will lead a two-day event at HIMSS15 in Chicago on April 13 and 14, running a host of discussions as well as a competition where startups can pitch ideas to health leaders and even a games pavilion that will highlight the uses for video games in healthcare.

Several panels scheduled during the inaugural HX360 event, dubbed Fostering Collaboration in Technology-Enabled Healthcare Delivery, will focus on a range of cutting-edge IT products including sensors, telehealth, mobilizing provider communications, and workflow as it relates to both analytics and care coordination.

Other highlights include a session on the who, what, why and how of investing in and nurturing startups as well as when to opt instead to purchase existing products. And the event will feature a look at next-generation patient engagement technologies that executives would want to be aware of today.

In addition to that general program, HX360 will hold an invite-only summit for C-level healthcare executives focusing on pushing health system leaders to confront today’s issues from different angles. Smythe said much of the C-suite event will focus on practicably answering questions to better understand where each organization stands on industry issues such as the range of executive titles in place, a track record of piloting and adopting technologies, and the change to value-based reimbursements.

The goal is for participating executives to leave HX360 with a better understanding of how their organizations can nurture innovation from within.