A major healthtech conference kicks off in Orlando, FL, on Monday, but many attendees — including long-term care operators — may not be feeling as if they’re in The Happiest Place on Earth.
That’s because the HIMSS 2024, put on by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, comes amid one of the worst cybersecurity attacks in years. The shutdown of the Change Healthcare platform last month has created a logistical nightmare for an array of health providers unable to process billing claims, including 90% of skilled nursing facilities.
Change Healthcare announced on Friday that it expects most of the platform to be available again starting in mid-March. The electronic payment platform could be up and running by March 15, the company said.
Although cybersecurity already was a main subject planned for the HIMSS conference, the Change Healthcare debacle figures to be a prominent focus of discussion, according to a Fierce Healthcare report.
Similar to other recent tech conferences, the HIMSS event promises to feature several healthtech companies touting new artificial intelligence capabilities.
Although the AgeTech showcase at CES 2024 in January focused on AI integration into wearables and devices, HIMSS figures to highlight how AI continues to transform software platforms and EHRs, including enabling different systems, such as between acute care and post-acute care providers, to be more interoperable.
HIMSS released a cybersecurity report in January about how to improve best practices and prevent security risks from tracking technology; security and remote monitoring tools were considered the top tech priorities for healthcare organizations, according to a recent survey.
The HIMSS 2024 conference will run March 11 to 15. More information about the event can be found online.
