by
Sean Ruck, Contributing Editor | February 21, 2016
From the January/February 2016 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
In addition, consumer and patient engagement must be incorporated more than ever before. Achieving health care reform and the goals of the national strategy really means we all have to work together. HIMSS works as a mutual convener to bring these influences together, but also to encourage action. There’s great importance regarding interpersonal, professional engagement as a member of HIMSS. HIMSS provides a way for an individual voice to collaborate.
HCB News: What are the main initiatives you’re championing as chair?
DA: First off, providing guidance to the HIMSS leadership and management staff is where I began. We just completed our annual strategic planning session. When I started my term this past July, I knew much of the guidance had been laid out in 2014. I knew what some of the focus areas were for me, as chair, and the board. I knew what we needed to be championing.
We needed to maintain HIMSS’ commitment to credibility and our mission. There’s definitely a continued focus on interoperability and usability; it’s very much on our radar screen. Additional focus on population health and accountable care will increase the demand for interoperable health IT, so that the right information gets to the right person at the right time to make informed decisions. And HIMSS continues to collaborate with the government (CMS, ONC) and other associations to help educate congressional staff, state legislators and others on the value of health IT for better health care outcomes.
Another area of focus is privacy and security — particularly related to cybersecurity. A CIO once told me, “I think we do very well as an organization to protect privacy and security, but I also know we’re only one step away from the bad guys … and we must keep focus on protecting our health system.” There is strong motivation to continue putting effort into cybersecurity and best practices. Encouraging innovation and use of business and clinical intelligence and analytics are other focus areas for HIMSS.
HCB News: What skills does an information and managementsystems professional need to be successful today?
DA: Information and management systems professionals must think strategically and agilely. This person must be comfortable taking risks using his or her creative, open and innovative mind. It requires understanding health care’s shift from fee-for-service to payment-for-value. ACOs, bundled payments and such are not the end game, but they are influencing our behavior in how we act and manage care to achieve value-based care.
