HiMSS '08: Navigating the vendor maze

So, HiMSS '08 is upon us. You know, it seems like only yesterday that my feet were recovering from the blisters I got walking the giant show floor in New Orleans last year!  This HiMSS, which takes place in magical reality land of Orlando, isn't likely to be easy on the shoe leather, either. In fact, it promises to be a blockbuster--a spectacle worth of Disney.

For one thing, there's a brain-boggling list of more than 900 exhibitors competing for your attention with booth babes, gear, demos and lots of giveaway toys. And of course, there's a smörgåsbord of brain food available at the 200-odd educational sessions taking place throughout the show's run, user groups, innumerable vendor-sponsored events, games and parties and God knows what else in the way of entertainment. (I like Citrix's booth game "Are you Smarter Than an IT Geek?"--a bit arch, but hey, I'm ready to play.)

So, where's should the smart but weary health IT exec spend their limited HiMSS time? Here's a few ideas on how to navigate the vendor maze:

* It never hurts to play with an EMR--or any other technology that has to be accessible to non-geeks--since an awkward design can make an otherwise clever product useless to your docs.

* By all means, fire tough questions at the security vendors, many of whom just seem to be getting the idea that healthcare-specific products are a Good Thing. But don't be fooled: a lot of them seem to be talking security without really "getting" healthcare realities.

* Anyone who claims they can make your pay-for-performance program's documentation and management easier deserves a listen. As with EMRs, the wrong technology here can actually make things worse.

* If a vendor has ready-to-roll technology available which can support remote patient monitoring, I'd love to see it--and you might want to as well.

By the way, while the most noise always comes from the billion-dollar vendors with the gigantic booths, dazzling light shows and models in short skirts, smaller vendors are staking their claim there too, and you should check some of them out. Actually, you're likely to encounter vendors at HiMSS that you won't run into any other way, as they probably don't have the marketing budget to reach you otherwise. 

Don't underestimate these small, scrappy players. Even if you don't end up buying their products, talking with emerging vendors can be quite a source of ideas. And after all, aren't ideas why you come to shows like HiMSS in the first place? 

Now, read on to get more detail on topics that should prove to be some of the hottest and most interesting at the show. I hope they're helpful. Meanwhile, with any luck, I hope to meet some of you there. If you see me, feel free to say hello! - Anne