Healthcare 20/20: The Transformation Of Healthcare Of The Future

Every day, the use of technology continues to transform the world of healthcare. An increasing number of providers are using state-of-the-art tools such as online visits and telemedicine to consult remotely with patients. Consumers are more involved with their care – using the Internet to access online information about the best doctors and hospitals wherever they are — as well as the cost of common medical treatments. Healthcare service providers are extending their reach beyond product and into value-add services. And healthcare payers are creating innovative payment models based on outcomes to help improve the quality of care and lower overall costs of care.

On Wednesday, May 20, the Central and Western Pennsylvania Chapters of the Health Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS) will present “Healthcare 20/20: The Transformation of Healthcare of the Future” at the Chestnut Ridge Resort in Blairsville, Pa. The event will focus on answering such questions as: What will the world of healthcare look like in the future? How will technology play a role? What changes are threats? What opportunities will result from the changing environment? Which healthcare industry disruptor is your organization most focused on innovating around? Specific topics will include:

• Big Data & Analytics
• New Care Delivery and Payment Mechanisms
• Consumer/ Patient Engagement Platforms
• Data Exchange across the Continuum of Care
• Entry of Non-Healthcare Companies

The event will feature local, regional and national speakers and panelists, topical presentations and insightful dialog on the advancement and application of technology in serving a transforming healthcare system.

Keynote speakers include:

• Alexandra (Alix) Goss, executive director, Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority. In her many roles, Ms. Goss has guided Pennsylvania’s efforts to improve quality and safety of healthcare by working with stakeholders to create and build a statewide network for electronic health information exchange (eHIE).
• Jim Leonard, healthcare information technology consultant, Xerox. Mr. Leonard was previously with QHR, LLC where he was VP of Information Technology & Consulting supporting more than 140 hospitals in 38 states. He has also held Chief Information Officer roles at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, a 650 bed Level 1 Trauma facility in Memphis, TN and Mary Black Health System, a 210 bed for-profit hospital in Spartanburg, SC. During his 25+-year healthcare career, Mr. Leonard’s focus has been on driving improved efficiencies in hospital departments by leveraging the capabilities in technology.

Confirmed panelists include:

• Karen Bell, MD, MMS, Director, JBS International’s Center for Sustainable Health and Care. Ms. Bell is a nationally recognized expert in Health IT, with clinical and leadership experience in the payer, provider, government, and public health sectors. As Chair of the Certification Commission for HIT (CCHIT), she was primary author of the CCHIT ACO/HIT Framework, the only consensus-developed, publicly available guidance on health IT for accountable care organizations. Dr. Bell was Director and Acting Deputy of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
• Natasa Sokolovich, JD, MSHCPM, executive director, Telemedicine; and senior director, Affiliated Physicians Services, UPMC. Ms. Sokolovich oversees the strategic expansion of UPMC’s Telemedicine Program, which includes more than 25 specialties. The program includes multi-specialty, virtual clinics and a convenience care web-based solution to facilitate “on-demand” virtual visits.
• Jim Younkin, information technology director at Geisinger Health System; director, Keystone Health Information Exchange. Mr. Younkin is an energetic, visionary leader with more than 27 years of progressive experience in the Health IT discipline.
• Jonathan Levoy, executive vice president, Alego Health. Mr. Levoy began his employment with Alego Health in November of 2009 as the VP of Business Development & Technology. He worked as an executive level Marketing and Operations Executive in several service industries prior to his tenure at Alego Health. He has also pioneered several technological advancements that have made Alego Health one of the industry’s most technologically advanced companies.
• Mark Seraly, MD, secretary, Teledermatology Special interest Group at American Telemedicine Association; chief medical officer and founder, IAGNOSIS. Iagnosis was founded with a goal of dramatically increasing access to skin care specialists across the country. The telehealth company is focused on patient-centered care: expanding choice, unimpeded access to services, improving patient satisfaction, and offering a broader range of clinical services.
• Antony Davies, associate professor, Economics, Duquesne University and Mercatus Affiliated Senior Scholar at George Mason University. Mr. Davies’ research interests include econometrics and public policy. He has authored 100+ op-eds in more than 30 newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, and Philadelphia Inquirer, and is a regular columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
• Dr. Mohammad Arif Ali, Visionary, Strategist, Analyst, Hospitalist, Pleasant Valley Hospital, Senior VP Clinical Projects, Process Proxy Corporation. Dr. Ali has a unique combination of clinical and technical experience and education along with strengths of communication and macro vision.
• David Finn, CISA, CISM, CRISC, health information technology officer for Symantec. Prior to his role at Symantec, Mr. Finn was the CIO and vice president of Information Services for Texas Children’s Hospital, one of the largest pediatric integrated delivery systems in the United States. He also served as the Privacy and Security Officer for Texas Children’s.
• Dr. Mike Parkinson, senior medical director of Health and Productivity, UPMC Health. Dr. Mike oversees employer strategies designed to improve health and competitiveness. He is the former president of the American College of Preventive Medicine, a society of physicians trained in and committed to disease prevention, health promotion and systems-based improvements in health and medical care. He is a retired Air Force colonel who was Associate Director, Medical Programs and Resources in the Office of the Surgeon General.

Panel discussions include:

• Interoperability (moderated by Alix Goss, PA eHealth Partnership Authority): This panel will focus on how interoperability relates to new technology, stakeholder needs and challenges today and in the future.
• eHealth and Telemedicine (moderated by Natasa Sokolovich, executive director, Telemedicine UPMC): Telecommunication and Internet technologies are being used to change the health care industry in unprecedented and irreversible ways. The value proposition with e-Health and telemedicine includes a higher quality of care, cost reductions, workflow efficiency, greater access, and widespread availability of healthcare services. This expert panel will focus on the adoption, value, cost and risks associated with eHealth and telemedicine.
• Health Analytics and Economics (moderated by Mike McNees, president/CEO, Syndicus, Inc.): External political, regulatory and economic forces are calling for greater collaboration among organizations across the Healthcare Value Chain. The Affordable Care Act has sanctioned changes to reimbursement and procedure-pricing models that affects how care is delivered. Along with regulatory changes and increased scrutiny around drug and diagnostic approvals, traditional business models of health and life science companies are being challenged. Companies, hospitals and academic institutions have increasingly realized that they can improve the outcome for physicians and patients by talking and engaging each other.

This panel will explore a range of topics, including privacy and security, the increasing importance of data for healthcare executives and clinicians alike, the future of health analytics, and closer to home, health technology priorities. Panelists will also discuss the change in dialogue amongst constituents and stakeholders as they work towards a more unified cost-saving healthcare model that streamlines treatment and maximizes limited government and private resources.

A presentation will be delivered by Ben Cotton of Ridge Global Solutions at the end of the day. Cotton will discuss the new nature of cyber threats and the countermeasures in healthcare.

Registration is now open at http://wpa.himsschapter.org/ and http://cpa.himsschapter.org/.

About HIMSS
HIMSS is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing healthcare professionals with educational conferences, networking opportunities and a forum for the exchange of ideas related to the use of health information systems and health information management.