Well, I was definitely surprised. Initially, expecting just a relatively "mild mannered" trade show with computer geeks (like myself), and healthcare technophobes...I found that I was walking through a surreal convention...the world of healthcare technology and big business have clearly met, engaged, and seem to be walking hand in hand in marital bliss...
All I could think of was Comdex and Las Vegas..this show, HIMSS 2008, is clearly much bigger than ever before, it is over the top in fact... The exhibit booths and display of marketing muscle in terms of investment in presence is unprecedented...
I have seen many trade shows in my 20 years of medicine and business and I was blown away by the 2 and 3 story exhibits...Anyone who is anyone was an exhibitor..if you werent at HIMSS this year , you do not exist...
PassportMD was there and generated a significant amount of buzz....we had tremendous traffic and interest in what we are doing in the consumer directed healthcare space...
It was a very exciting event for us and for all those that participated...
Now, for the real news...
Microsoft Healthvault and Google Health ( http://www.healthvault.com/ and ttp://www.google.com/ig?hl=en) were both there...Contrary to popular opinion, I am in favor of Microsoft and Google's presence in the healthcare IT world...Although many privacy advocacy groups and other competitors, editors, journalists, healthcare veterans differ , I believe that their presence is critical to bringing up everyone's ultimate benefits and interoperability...I am impressed by Microsoft and Google's committment to working with other vendors such as PassportMD, and both are committed to privacy and security. I do not believe that Google or Microsoft are going to shy away from providing the very best in options for forwarding the cause of personal health records and to do it in a manner that is admirable...So, Cudos to Microsoft's Healthvault and to Google's Google Health...
I guess the only concern I would have is their vast underestimation of the significance of the problem of today's healthcare situation , their potential lack of understanding and their risk for arrogance and naivete as they enter this market...simply stated, it is not like entering the software or the Internet search market as they did over the last few decades..there are a number of stakeholders and their are real life critical health issues that need to be considered...I am hoping that PassportMD can help as can the myriads of other vendors that can provide some value and perspective to this massive undertaking ...
It is indeed a very exciting time to be in healthcare IT.
Friday, February 29, 2008
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