Canada-U.S. Healthcare Technology Summit Scheduled for March 8-9 to Discuss Improving Care Through Innovation

The Consulate General of Canada in Buffalo and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, along with their partner, the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), will present the inaugural Canada - United States Healthcare Information Technology Summit in Pittsburgh, March 8-9 at the DoubleTree Hotel.

The Summit’s goal is to foster partnerships and identify opportunities for synergies between Canadian Healthcare information technology (IT) companies and U.S. Hospitals and Health Insurers, to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions, leading to improved outcomes and lowered costs.

As total annual U.S. healthcare costs have passed $2 trillion, the role of healthcare and technology has taken center stage both in Washington and on Wall Street. The United States has embarked on a major overhaul of its healthcare system and is seeking to reduce costs and improve patient care utilizing information technology and mobile communications, as well as through the adoption of advanced care delivery and reimbursement models.

Several innovative Canadian Healthcare IT companies will be selected to participate in the Thursday evening March 8, networking reception/session and the Friday, March 9, educational session from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

A distinguished group of speakers from the United States and Canada will cover these topics and more:
 - Increasing Use of Social Media in Healthcare
 - Hospital CIO will describe her experience with the conversion to ICD-10 codes
 - Use of SMS/Text Messaging for successful health management
 - Update on the HIE progress in Western Pennsylvania
 - Networking opportunities with local contacts & representatives from innovative Canadian eHealth companies

Thursday, March, 8 Networking Reception and Presentation
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.: Networking & Exhibits (refreshments served)

6:30 - 7:45 p.m.: Use of Social Media in Healthcare Panel Discussion, followed by Q&A session
- Kelly Kimberland, Director, Market Strategy & Social Marketing, UPMC Health Plan, Pittsburgh, PA
- Howard Rosen, CEO, LifeWIRE Corporation, Toronto, Ontario & Annapolis, MD

7:45 - 8:30 p.m.: Networking & Exhibits

Friday, March 9, 2012 Educational Seminars 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.: Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.: Welcome
- Mary C. St. Mary, Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada
- Robert Sheesley, President, Western Pennsylvania Chapter of HIMSS

8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: Surviving the ICD-10 Conversion
- Carlyn Mouton, Chief Business Development Officer, Salumatics, Mississauga, Ontario
- Diane Salois-Swallow, CIO, York Central Hospital, Toronto, Ontario

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Using Interactive SMS for Successful Health Management
- Howard Rosen, CEO, LifeWIRE Corporation, Toronto, Ontario & Annapolis, MD

10:30 a.m to 10:45 a.m.: Break

10:45 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.: Health IT Security Concerns
- Mac McMillan, CEO, CynergisTek, Inc., Austin, TX and Chair, HIMSS Privacy & Security Policy Task Force

Noon to 1:00 p.m. Lunch A select group of innovative Canadian companies will provide brief five-minute overviews of their company’s products & services

1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.: Keynote
Invited Speaker: Representative from Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Closing

Breakout Rooms will be available to meet one to one with representatives from Canadian companies from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Event Sponsors: © Copyright Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

Event Sponsors: