4 can’t-miss events for Philly health-tech entrepreneurs

Compared to decades past, those involved in the healthcare industry are keenly aware of the changes that need to happen in the near future.

Workflow efficiency, improved quality of care, care coordination, population health management — these goals and priorities are all connected to a new model of care delivery that cannot be achieved without innovative technologies breaking down healthcare’s systemic barriers.
That said, the diversity of operational standards and infrastructures that healthcare organizations follow makes it near impossible for technologists to develop promising solutions without heavily interacting with those who make topline decisions within healthcare organizations. Without educational events and conferences, opportunities to interact with key healthcare players would be extremely hard to come by.
Luckily, April is the biggest month of the year for the health IT world, with heavy-hitting conferences happening locally and regionally. Here are the top healthcare technology events you should attend this month:

1. Philly Tech Week’s breakfast panel event, Converging Technology, Data & Clinicians to Improve Community Health

This event was organized to raise awareness within the HIT entrepreneurial community of the challenges and successes healthcare organization leaders and policymakers have had utilizing data, technology and clinicians to support their care delivery goals. James Buehler, MD, the Health Commissioner of Philadelphia will discuss how the city intends to support providers in moving the city’s population health agenda forward. Health care leaders from Penn Medicine and the Jefferson School of Population Health, as well as health technology leaders with proven, population health specific solutions will demonstrate how technology can and is already supporting care delivery goals.
Happening: Monday, April 20 at Philadelphia’s Pyramid Club
Registration details

2. TigerLabs’ daylong conference, Digital Health Innovation in Context 2015: BIG DATA

This one-day conference will focus on fostering discussion on the role of big data in digital health innovation, strategy and opportunities. Seasoned and successful health IT entrepreneurs, digital health innovation leaders and policy makers will all come together to share knowledge during this intimate event.
Happening: Wednesday, April 23 in Princeton, N.J.
Registration details

3. The HIMSS 2015 Annual Conference & Exhibition

This conference is arguably the largest conference in HIT every year. In the past 20 years attendance has ballooned from nearly 2,000 to now nearly 40,000 attendees. The topics to be discussed are equally as many as the amount of attendees. Before booking a redeye to Chicago, take a look at the conference education topics and event listings to determine which days will be most rewarding.
Happening: April 12-16 in Chicago, Ill.
Registration details

4. PACT’s daylong Phorum conference, From Silos to Systems: Transforming Your Business Through Emerging Technologies

If you decided against attending HIMSS, then Phorum 2015 could alternatively inspire you to think way outside of the box. Many of the infrastructural changes that the healthcare industry is facing now have been addressed in most other, fast-moving industries. Thus, health IT entrepreneurs can still stand to learn a lot from the innovative solutions that have been implemented outside of healthcare.
The key to maximizing your learning during this conference is to attend sessions where industry leaders are discussing how they overcame systemic challenges. Salesforce VP for Strategic Research Peter Coffee’s talk on shifting from siloed technologies and information to holistic systems is one of the many sessions that standout as most compelling.
Happening: Tuesday, April 14 at Philadelphia’s Penn Museum
Registration details