Health IT rEsources
HIMSS12 — the 2012 edition of the biggest gathering of people interested in health information technology (HIT) — is less than a month away. Although often thought of as the bastion of HIT corporations, HIMSS has become an active proponent of social media and efforts to include patients and consumers in HIT. The annual HIMSS conference is one of the best resources for information and opportunities to “meetup” with leaders in social media and networking. In preparation for this year’s event (Feb. 20 to 24 in Las Vegas), I offer links to some HIMSS sessions and other resources for information about social media in healthcare:
Epatients: The hackers of the healthcare world
Fred Trotter offers a “quick reference for becoming an empowered patient.” This recent post on the O’Reilly Radar blog is a great place for patients and providers to begin exploring the ways that “engaged, empowered, enabled” patients are redefining the roles of patients and providers. Though Trotter designs open-source tools and compares ePatients to hackers, he points out wisely, “…it is the relationships and insights that matter here, not the technology. Whenever possible, you want the right information delivered over the wrong technology medium, rather than the other way around.”
Located in the Lobby of Halls A–C, the Social Media Center offers opportunities to “connect with leading health IT bloggers, social media specialists and the faces behind HIMSS social networks through educational sessions, panel discussions and meetups.” This year, among these opportunities are three separate editions of HIMSS’ Meet the Bloggers sessions: clinician, healthIT, and mHealth.
Leading from the Future: Connecting Consumers with Their Healthcare
This HIMSS Thought Leadership event at HIMSS12 offers a wide range of perspectives to professionals “looking to control costs, make better decisions, and strengthen products/services utilizing e-engagement strategies.”
This new report by ECRI Institute is a comprehensive introduction and guide to the use of social media for hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Written with risk managers in mind, it provides recommendations to maximize opportunities for outreach and communication while reducing associated risk.