HIMSS 25: A whirlwind of technology advancements

Authored by Christiana Voelker, M.Ed. , Avanade Director, Healthcare Industry Lead.

If I think of one word to characterize HIMSS 25 this year, it has to be “whirlwind.”

It is always so good to catch up with colleagues we know and to make new connections at one of the premier conferences for healthcare professionals. This year was energized by the introduction of new groundbreaking technologies, many sure to usher in breakthroughs in research, patient care and healthcare system optimization.

Breaking new ground

Microsoft ’s launch of its Microsoft Dragon Copilot, a truly new groundbreaking solution that will transform the way clinicians work, was a showstopper. Dragon is the first AI assistant for clinical workflow that brings together the trusted natural language voice dictation capabilities of DMO with the popular ambient listening capabilities of DAX, with fine-tuned generative AI and healthcare-adapted safeguards.

We at Avanade were proud to introduce SAIGE, our Smart AI Governance Engine. SAIGE is designed specifically to help healthcare organizations implement AI responsibly, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and promoting ethical AI usage. By providing a structured framework for AI deployment, it will support enhanced patient outcomes while mitigating potential risks associated with AI integration in healthcare settings.

These were two examples of how generative AI is still the biggest conversation starter, generating maximum excitement as it moves into the mainstream of healthcare. HIMSS 25 was the perfect place to experience it all, an inspiring collaboration happening in real time as these and related technologies continue to evolve and mature.

Security at the heart of everything we do

Another emphasis for us is always safety, security and the responsible use of AI. Our Avanade team was pleased to host sessions focused on AI and cybersecurity, areas particularly critical in healthcare. In our sessions, we addressed the transformative potential of AI in healthcare delivery, emphasizing the importance of strong cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive patient data. Our goal for attendees was to learn about best practices for adopting AI technologies and strategies to bolster their cybersecurity posture.

Alex Enriquez, CISSP , Avanade cybersecurity solution lead, joined forum discussions on enhancing cyber resilience and the necessity of having comprehensive incident response plans. I found the forums invaluable, as security experts underscored the urgency of safeguarding healthcare infrastructure against evolving cyber threats, something at the core of everything we at Avanade do in the security space.

Collaboration

Two additional highlights for me:

·       On Monday evening, Avanade helped sponsor the Trustworthy Responsible AI Network dinner event with Microsoft.  At the event, my colleague, David Galich , Chief Product Officer, SAIGE at Avanade, had the opportunity to speak with leading healthcare organizations about SAIGE and how it allows organizations to trace, evaluate and manage their AI inventory.

·       We hosted the Michigan HIMSS chapter for a networking event, which gave us all a chance to share what we were experiencing and learning, particularly valuable when there is so much to see and do packed into a conference that seems to fly by so fast.

In fact, we were closing HIMSS before we knew it, taking home all we had learned from interactive sessions and full days of discussions, many focused on one topic: exploring the future of responsible AI in healthcare.

These engagements provided valuable insights into emerging trends –and challenges– that I know will spur many more discussions in the year ahead. As important, I came away inspired by the collaborative environment that I am confident will continue to drive innovation throughout the healthcare sector.

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