HiMSS 2015 Chicago, USA, 12-16 Aprilhimaa2.org.au/HIM-I/sites/default/files/HIM-I 5-3...
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HIM-INTERCHANGE Vol 5 No 3 2015 ISSN 1838-8620 (PRINT) ISSN 1838-8639 (ONLINE) 33 HiMSS 2015 Chicago, USA, 12-16 April Cameron Barnes My manager, Judith Day, thought I would be the right person to take on a new role in Information Governance: ‘You would be perfect for it, Cameron, and you are always asking for new challenges after all’. Be careful what you wish for, hey…! So I started my foray into the world of Information Governance (IG) which is not really a world so much as a new Universe. A few months later Judith rang and asked ‘Would you like to go to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HiMSS) Conference in Chicago with me – there is going to be heaps on IG?’ ‘Sounds great but I have to check with my family and the footy fixture first’ I replied. However, before I knew it, the trip was booked with Dr David Phillips, Business Intelligence expert, and we were scheduled for a lightning visit to the ‘Windy City’. We arrived on a Friday afternoon and Chicago welcomed us with a nice sunny day following cyclones that had hit the city only days before. We had dinner at a local steakhouse in typical Chicago style. The following morning still suffering from jetlag, I prepared to venture out of the hotel. The joys of travel! After a day exploring the local sites, sights and shops, I went to bed early to try and overcome the jetlag and be ready for the first day of the Conference. I was attending a Quality Symposium. Once again, I woke bright and early at 2, 4 and 6 am! We had breakfast in the Trump Tower (big, shiny, only place open) and then off to the Conference Centre ‘McCormick Place’. Think of a big conference centre you have been to in Australia. Now double it, double it again, now add some cream and toppings and it’s still only just getting there. This place is huge. The Symposium was USA-centric but there were some decent nuggets of information and it was a good introduction to the rest of the week. We were registered and ready to rock and roll. That night we sat around an open fire with brownies and brews (coffee) at the lovely Langham and planned our next few days with the invaluable Conference App. We planned where we would go, what we would double up on and what we shouldn’t. To give you an idea of scale, most sessions had half an hour between them … not for coffee, but simply to get from one Conference Centre wing to another! The first morning was mayhem. We were so glad we had already registered as the queues for your satchel and ID badge were hundreds of metres long. The queue for Starbucks was longer. There were approximately 43,000 registrants and they wanted their satchel and coffee, now! The previous day’s unofficial ‘orientation’ was invaluable as we had at least some idea where to go, and how, and not miss half the day due to a queue. The Conference sessions began and I was right into the swing of everything Information Governance. The good news for us was that we are not that far behind the US in regards to how far we have progressed in this relatively brave new world in the health sector. It is particularly pertinent to most US hospitals in regard to the EHR, but the foundations and frame- works are consistent across all aspects of data. I also attended some sessions that were coding-related; all were valuable.Yes, they have the same issues we do … but largely in the domain of ICD-9. Next up, the Exhibition ‘Halls’. Note the plural. They aren’t halls, they are aeroplane hangars. Laid end to end. From seemingly one end of Chicago to another. Three (or maybe four) of them. If you don’t have a compass, a GPS and a bag full of bread crumbs, you will get lost trying to navigate your way from the CSC stand to the Cerner stand. They are not really A chilly Conference Day in Chicago
Transcript of HiMSS 2015 Chicago, USA, 12-16 Aprilhimaa2.org.au/HIM-I/sites/default/files/HIM-I 5-3...
HIM-INTERCHANGE Vol 5 No 3 2015 ISSN 1838-8620 (PRINT) ISSN 1838-8639 (ONLINE) 33
HiMSS 2015 Chicago, USA, 12-16 AprilCameron Barnes
My manager, Judith Day, thought I would be the right person to take on a new role in Information Governance: ‘You would be perfect for it, Cameron, and you are always asking for new challenges after all’.
Be careful what you wish for, hey…!So I started my foray into the world of Information
Governance (IG) which is not really a world so much as a new Universe. A few months later Judith rang and asked ‘Would you like to go to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HiMSS) Conference in Chicago with me – there is going to be heaps on IG?’
‘Sounds great but I have to check with my family and the footy fixture first’ I replied. However, before I knew it, the trip was booked with Dr David Phillips, Business Intelligence expert, and we were scheduled for a lightning visit to the ‘Windy City’.
We arrived on a Friday afternoon and Chicago welcomed us with a nice sunny day following cyclones that had hit the city only days before. We had dinner at a local steakhouse in typical Chicago style. The following morning still suffering from jetlag, I prepared to venture out of the hotel. The joys of travel!
After a day exploring the local sites, sights and shops, I went to bed early to try and overcome the jetlag and be ready for the first day of the Conference. I was attending a Quality Symposium. Once again, I woke bright and early at 2, 4 and 6 am! We had breakfast in the Trump Tower (big, shiny, only place open) and then off to the Conference Centre ‘McCormick Place’. Think of a big conference centre you have been to in Australia. Now double it, double it again, now add some cream and toppings and it’s still only just getting there. This place is huge.
The Symposium was USA-centric but there were some decent nuggets of information and it was a good introduction to the rest of the week. We were registered and ready to rock and roll. That night we sat around an open fire with brownies and brews (coffee) at the lovely Langham and planned our next few days with the invaluable Conference App. We planned where we would go, what we would double up on and what we shouldn’t. To give you an idea of scale, most sessions had half an hour between them … not for coffee, but simply to get from one Conference Centre wing to another!
The first morning was mayhem. We were so glad we had already registered as the queues for your satchel and ID badge were hundreds of metres long. The queue for Starbucks was longer. There were approximately 43,000 registrants and they wanted their satchel and coffee, now! The previous day’s unofficial ‘orientation’ was invaluable as we had at least some
idea where to go, and how, and not miss half the day due to a queue.
The Conference sessions began and I was right into the swing of everything Information Governance. The good news for us was that we are not that far behind the US in regards to how far we have progressed in this relatively brave new world in the health sector. It is particularly pertinent to most US hospitals in regard to the EHR, but the foundations and frame-works are consistent across all aspects of data. I also attended some sessions that were coding-related; all were valuable. Yes, they have the same issues we do … but largely in the domain of ICD-9.
Next up, the Exhibition ‘Halls’. Note the plural. They aren’t halls, they are aeroplane hangars. Laid end to end. From seemingly one end of Chicago to another. Three (or maybe four) of them. If you don’t have a compass, a GPS and a bag full of bread crumbs, you will get lost trying to navigate your way from the CSC stand to the Cerner stand. They are not really
A chilly Conference Day in Chicago
34 HIM-INTERCHANGE Vol 5 No 3 2015 ISSN 1838-8620 (PRINT) ISSN 1838-8639 (ONLINE)
EVENTS
Cameron A. Barnes, MHlthAdmin, BAppSc(MRA)Director, Health Information Services andInformation Governance Cabrini Health183 Wattletree RdMalvern VIC 3144Tel: +61 3 9508 1876Mobile: 0417 348 744
stands! One company had a full-sized bus as its booth and Epic had a little village built with brick walls and chimneys.
Now to the big question: after all this flying, walking and learning, how did this conference help me? Well, first of it all it confirmed we were on the right track. It made me realise that ‘data are data’ and that they have more things in common than differences, regardless of the country, source system or other variables. It gave me inspiration to know that others were struggling with the same sort of issues as we are but that with persistence, time and collaboration, it is possible to overcome these problems.
So after four and half days of learning, it was time to hop back in the free shuttle bus to O’Hare Airport. I liked Chicago as it reminded me of Melbourne. I liked the conference too and learnt useful information from it. If you are planning to go in February 2016 to Las Vegas, I recommend you attend sessions before the ‘big stuff ’ starts; be very well prepared and get ready to dive in, as you will be absorbed regardless, just like those Chicago cyclones …
Special thank you to Cabrini for supporting my attendance.
Downtown Chicago
