TigerConnect at HIMSS23: 3 Biggest Takeaways

More than 40,000 health professionals gathered once again at the 2023 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition to tackle some of the industry’s biggest challenges and discover the latest innovations. As one of the leading health conferences in the world, attendees were given valuable opportunities to network, learn and discuss solutions around critical issues such as the ongoing workforce shortages, evolving care delivery models, care access, the continuing digital health revolution, and the lingering economic impact of COVID-19. TigerConnect team members had the honor of attending HIMSS23 and were thrilled to be among changemakers during the conference. We had the chance to hear healthcare leaders come together to discuss common goals such as improving care coordination, reducing staff burnout, driving organizational efficiency, and cutting costs. 

Below are three of our biggest takeaways from this year’s conference. 

Healthcare workers are burning out on being burnt out 

Unsurprisingly, burnout continues to be a major topic at the conference. Many HIMSS23 attendees discussed burnout and how nurses are leaving their jobs at alarming rates due to a lack of support after enduring a devastating few years. A report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) found that the healthcare industry is seeing another wave of departures, this time by doctors. AAMC projects that by 2033, the United States will face a shortage of 54,100 to 139,000 physicians across various specialties. Notably, conference attendees were less concerned with discussing the existence of burnout and more interested in finding strategic technology solutions for the issue. 

While attendees generally agreed that innovative healthcare technology is needed to address burnout, simplifying how healthcare professionals utilize technology is crucial. Healthcare professionals often face a complex array of systems to coordinate patient care, each with different interfaces and user experiences, leading to confusion and wasted time. Simplifying technology can create a cohesive and intuitive experience for healthcare professionals, reducing the need to navigate multiple systems and ultimately freeing up time for patient care. By reducing the cognitive load of navigating technology, healthcare professionals can streamline clinical workflows and reduce burnout, leading to better outcomes for patients and providers. 

Revenue declines amid turbulent economic outlooks

Decreasing revenue in healthcare is its own problem, but it’s also a contributing factor to physician and care team burnout. Revenue issues in healthcare were top of mind for HIMSS23 attendees, particularly concerning the following challenges. 

• Declining reimbursements: Providers often rely on rebates from insurance companies and government programs to cover their costs. However, reimbursement rates have been declining in recent years. 
• Increasing expenses: Healthcare providers face rising costs of drugs, medical supplies, and labor. These expenses can eat into revenue and make it difficult for healthcare providers to maintain profitability. 
• Uninsured patients: Many in the United States are uninsured or underinsured, making it difficult for healthcare providers to collect payment for services rendered. 

• Competition: Healthcare providers face increasing competition from other providers, including hospitals, urgent care centers, and retail clinics. This can lead to a decrease in patient volumes and revenue. 

Overall, revenue problems in healthcare can be complex and multifaceted, so healthcare providers must be proactive in managing their finances and adapting to changes in the healthcare landscape to maintain financial stability. Ultimately, hospitals can address workforce and revenue concerns with streamlined, standardized clinical workflows that result in better productivity, higher patient satisfaction, and reduced readmissions, which helps increase revenue and reduce costs. 

Technology’s role in healthcare 

The use of generative AI solutions was a pivotal discussion at HIMSS23 as it aims to aid in patient-care team communications, internal hospital workflows, and revenue management. Some healthcare providers have been slow to adopt certain emerging technologies for fear they may get in the way of providing quality patient care. Still, popular solutions like ChatGPT continue to cause excitement and skepticism among healthcare leaders. Some think AI models have the potential to create biases in healthcare and that it takes away from the human side of medicine. But when done right, comprehensive tech solutions can work cohesively with clinical workflows to ensure technology always has the human element. 

The TigerConnect Clinical Collaboration Platform is an example where the technology supports healthcare professionals by connecting people and data through a central hub, creating a seamless collaborative experience for all involved. To help free care teams from time-consuming tasks and communication bottlenecks, TigerConnect automates workflows to enable faster communication, increase productivity, reduce costs, and enhance the patient experience.  

Interested in learning more about how healthcare technology can reduce costs and improve efficiency for your healthcare organization? Check out this eBook to discover how modern healthcare technology can help improve your clinical communication.