At this year's 2024 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, attendees will again have the chance to attend and participate in the conference's annual Views from the Top sessions – special high-level keynotes and presentations from leaders from across healthcare, government and the private sector.

The 60-minute lectures will offer fresh and fascinating insights into the hottest topics in healthcare in 2024, from AI challenges and opportunities to the collaborative priorities between government agencies aimed at boosting IT innovation in how healthcare is delivered and disrupted, regulated and reimbursed.

Here are just a few of the Views from the Top sessions on offer at HIMSS24.

Where public health and health IT meet

On Tuesday March 12 at 10:30 a.m. in room W224E, Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Deputy National Coordinator Steve Posnack of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT will offer insights into the collaborative nature – and future – of the relationship between CDC and the ONC, and how public health can make better use of information and technology.

In addition to their thoughts on the power of partnership to advance tech innovations in healthcare, Cohen and Posnack will also outline their strategic priorities for the year ahead during the session, ONC & CDC Discuss the Nexus of Health IT and Public Health.

What makes disruption effective?

In the session, Digital Health Start-ups: Harnessing Innovation to Disrupt and Improve Care Delivery, scheduled for Tuesday, March 12 at noon in room W224E, Sally Frank, worldwide lead for health and life sciences at Microsoft, will moderate a panel of leaders from successful startups on the need for passion, curiosity and a healthy dose of skepticism when seeking to foster an innovative culture across the digital health ecosystem.

By synthesizing patient journey experiences, stakeholders can drive meaningful and lasting change, while the significance of patient-centric care focused on quality outcomes and accessibility, will require the adoption of innovative approaches to respond to evolving market forces.

All aboard the genAI 'bullet train'

And on Tuesday March 12 at 1:30 p.m. in room W224E, longtime health IT pioneer Dr. John Halamka, president of Mayo Clinic Platform, will hold court on a topic he has been deeply curious about in recent years – along with all of us – generative AI. No question the technology is poised to set off a revolution in healthcare and promises transformative value. While the potential benefits are immense, so too are the challenges. Implementing qualitative, clinical and technical guardrails is crucial to navigating this complex landscape effectively.

Halamka's lecture, Keeping the Generative AI Bullet Train on the Tracks, looks at ways to address both advantages and disadvantages of genAI to help healthcare leaders ensure this high-speed innovation train stays on track and leverage innovation to drive positive impacts in patient care and healthcare delivery.

Leveraging IT for enhanced delivery models

On Wednesday, March 13 at 1 p.m. in room W224E, Angela Shippy, senior physician executive and director at Amazon Web Services, will moderate a panel comprising three healthcare IT leaders who will explore methods to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and achieve clinical, financial and patient-care objectives.

At the session, Reinventing Healthcare Delivery with the Digital Transformation: Optimizing Costs, Experiences, and Outcomes, attendees will gain insights into the implications of the workforce shortfall, leveraging technology to improve healthcare delivery, workforce satisfaction and bridging health IT competency gaps to advance the quadruple aim of healthcare.

New ways forward for payment reform

And on Wednesday, March 13 at 2:30 p.m. in room W224E, Michael Meucci, president and CEO of Arcadia, will emcee a panel discussion exploring payment reform and cost pressures that considers technology and offers strategies for providers to navigate change.

That session, Tech-Driven Healthcare Transformation: Navigating Innovation, Payment Reform and Patient Care, will help attendees will learn about strategies of digital-first competitors and essential capabilities for competing in the evolving healthcare landscape. The discussion aims to help attendees develop strategies to incorporate digital and AI capabilities into care delivery for competitive advantage.

HIMSS24 is scheduled to take place March 11-15 in Orlando. Learn more and register.

Nathan Eddy is a healthcare and technology freelancer based in Berlin.
Email the writer: nathaneddy@gmail.com
Twitter: @dropdeaded209