Cybersecurity, AI, and New Health Tech: HIMSS2024 Recap

Thousands of healthcare leaders from around the world descended on Orlando last week for the hotly anticipated HIMSS2024 Global Health Conference and Exhibition. The annual Healthcare Information and Management Society (HIMSS) conference is the premier industry event, where companies and experts converge for networking, new product launches, and insightful discussions on the latest trends and challenges facing the healthcare space.

This year’s conference, held at the Orange County Convention Center, featured more than 1,100 exhibitors and was attended by more than 35,000 professionals. This included CEOs and other C-suite executives, government officials, scientists, and physician leaders.

Cybersecurity at the Forefront

It’s no surprise that cybersecurity was among the top topics discussed. Experts examined the ever-present danger of ransomware cyberattacks and the need to identify new and stronger tech stacks to protect patient data — and corporate reputations. Hackers are using more sophisticated tools and software than ever; healthcare systems and other enterprises must stay vigilant and employ the right people and technologies to stop new threats. In alignment with this, PR and communications specialists must be prepared for crises and be at the ready to respond transparently and proactively as needed.

Artificial intelligence was another red-hot topic. In addition to the use of AI in protecting against cybersecurity attacks, its roles in improving workforce optimization, clinical provider enablement, and direct patient care were the focus of numerous panels and breakout sessions.

New Health Tech on the Horizon

No HIMSS conference would be complete without a look at the latest cutting-edge advancements — health tech solutions that are saving time, saving money, and even saving lives. Brand leaders and their PR teams shone the spotlight on a variety of extraordinary new tools and platforms, and a few in particular stood out:

• Siemens Healthineers unveiled an app for Apple’s Vision Pro that turns CT and MR scans into interactive, photorealistic 3D holograms. Dubbed Cinematic Reality, the app promises significant benefits for clinical education and training as well as patient communication.
• Oracle introduced new features in its healthcare data platform, including generative AI tools. The enhancements include prebuilt analytics for social determinants of health, childhood wellness, immunization, chronic conditions, and more.
• Microsoft announced a partnership with some of the nation’s largest hospital systems to establish the Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network, or TRAIN. As its name suggests, TRAIN will help keep AI in healthcare “on track” while improving safety, fairness, and accessibility.
• Epic, which in 2023 unveiled an initiative to integrate AI and large-language models into its electronic health record platform, announced at HIMSS2024 that it now has 60 use cases in development.

This is just a sampling of the many innovations announced at HIMSS, with countless more updates to follow in 2024. There has never been a more exciting time in healthcare … but there are also more ethical, reputational, and security risks to navigate than ever before. Along with our valued clients, MikeWorldWide’s healthcare, technology, and corporate reputation teams are keeping a watchful eye on the evolving landscape.

And you can keep an eye out for MWW Health at the Swaay.Health Live conference in Atlanta in May! If you plan to be at the conference, please drop us a line.