As I prepare for HIMSS15 in Chicago, from April 12-16 at McCormick Place, I think about the transformation of health care through the power of IT -- through innovation, engagement, leadership and more. And, I know others share in this vision; our nearly 40,000 attendees and more than 1,200 exhibiting companies join us to discover, inspire and create the future of health through IT. 

Here are the five things I am watching at HIMSS15.

1. HIMSS Health IT Value Suite, South Building, Hall A, Booth 4891

HIMSS expanded the functionality of the Health IT Value Suite, a robust portfolio of more 10,500 evidence-based, value-focused case studies from 1,200 unique health care organizations around the world. Each case study articulates the value of health IT in at least one of five Value STEPS™:

• Satisfaction;
• Treatment;
• Electronic information;
• Prevention and education; and
• Savings.

This new area on the HIMSS15 exhibition floor offers the chance to hear from and interact with the 2014 HIMSS Davies Awards of Excellence recipients as they share their personal success stories to improve care and patient outcomes in community health, ambulatory and enterprise settings. What makes this exhibition area unique is the intersection between the HIMSS Value Suite and the Davies Award with more than 25 educational sessions. All tell the story behind the Value STEPS by using real-world examples available in our online, searchable resource. The presentations illustrate how value can be sought and achieved in various ways to meet strategic, analytic, budgetary and managerial objectives.

2. Matching Patient Records, Cybersecurity Command Center, North Building, Hall B, Booth 8175

This new area includes exhibitions and education on many aspects of cybersecurity, including a fascinating presentation/update on the HIMSS Innovator-in-Residence program.

HIMSS and HHS are collaborators in a two-year fellowship program, called the "HIMSS Innovator in Residence Program," that is designed to move the health sector forward via the creation of a nationwide patient matching strategy. In his position, Adam Culbertson is a HIMSS employee, working onsite in the HHS offices and in close collaboration with the government's chief technology officer and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT.

For this project, HIMSS and HHS are working with our respective stakeholders to improve, measure and manage algorithmic matching of patient records. Long term, this also includes integration of identity management technologies and methods into the health care sector to find user-friendly ways to give people and organizations confidence in their online interactions. And we see these efforts coming to fruition in innovation and interoperability opportunities at the HIMSS Innovation Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

3. Interoperability in Action

Attendees will find much to choose from at HIMSS15 when it comes to interoperability -- the discussion and display of the secure, standards-based exchange of patient health information. Here are a few selections to consider.

HIMSS Interoperability Showcase™, South Building, Hall A, Booth 2084

With 40,000 square feet and 140 clinical information systems, the HIMSS Interoperability Showcase^TM, in collaboration with Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE), is a live demonstration -- not simulation -- area of standards-based interoperability. Here, attendees can learn more about improving the continuity of care, clinician workflow, an organization's financial bottom line and quality patient care.

This year, 78 vendors from the IHE North American Connectathon 2015 come to the Interoperability Showcase after participating in the Connectathon testing event, held for the first time in Cleveland, Ohio, at the co-located facilities of the Cleveland Convention Center and Global Center for Health Innovation, which is the home of the HIMSS Innovation Center. These vendors and other participating organizations arrive at the HIMSS Interoperability Showcase with their systems ready to be part of the six patient care scenarios during the three days on the exhibit floor.  

HIMSS Innovation Center

Come to the HIMSS Spot on Wednesday, April 15 from 11:30 a.m.-noon CT, to learn more about this state-of-the-art, testing, exhibition and conference facility. The HIMSS Innovation Center, a 30,000-square-foot demonstration, education and testing site, is open year-round in Cleveland, and 24/7 via the cloud.

Now enhanced by HIMSS Interoperability Services, the center can host health care providers and vendors wishing to test innovative health IT products on site, as well as virtually through the cloud. These services include the newly launched collaboration of HIMSS, IHE USA and the EHR HIE Interoperability Workgroup. Through this program, ICSA Labs evaluates the interoperability of vendors' health IT systems. Providers can solve clinical workflow challenges and assure information exchange across the care continuum with health IT products that have achieved certification through the program.

4. HIMSS Volunteers 

This year, HIMSS15 coincides with National Volunteer Week, April 12-18.

So much of what attendees will experience and enjoy during our time in Chicago truly comes from the dedication of HIMSS volunteers. For example, the members of the HIMSS15 Annual Conference Education Committee and conference reviewers focus their time and expertise into planning the program selecting the more than 300 educational sessions from more than 700 proposals. We will be recognizing our many volunteers during the conference, including at the HIMSS Awards & Recognition Gala on Tuesday evening, April 14 at the Chicago Hilton.

5. Meaningful Use  

With the proposed rules for meaningful use Stage 3 out, HIMSS15 has expanded its already strong programming on meeting the requirements of meaningful use.

While HIMSS15 includes many sessions on different aspects of meaningful use, here are two presentations and a keynote that are important to watch when it comes to the basics of meaningful use and the specifics of meaningful use Stage 3.

April 13

Session 10, CMS Incentive Programs Overview,10-11 a.m. CT, South Building, Room S100C

Three CMS subject matter experts will provide their insights on the incentive programs, including participation requirements, deadlines, payment adjustments and participation updates. Presenters are Elisabeth Myers, Robert Anthony and Elizabeth Holland.

Session 40, CMS Meaningful Use Stage 3 Requirements, 1-2 p.m. CT, South Building, Room 100C

In this session, presenters Myers and Anthony return to discuss the requirements of meaningful use Stage 3, with a look at how Stage 3 differs from other stages of this incentive program, while providing important milestones for compliance.

April 16 - Keynote Session, 8:30-10 a.m. CT, Skyline Ballroom

• Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, national coordinator for health IT, ONC
• Andy Slavitt, acting administrator at CMS

DeSalvo and Slavitt will deliver their remarks and then sit down with HIMSS Chair-Elect Dana Alexander for a question-and-answer perspective on meaningful use and more.

At HIMSS15: So, now you know what I am watching at HIMSS15.  I hope you will join me in Chicago and enjoy these sessions and so much more at the conference.