Currently, healthcare is a much debated and complex topic in the U.S. While the legislative debate rages on, there are many healthcare stakeholders from all ends of the equation are interested in what the future of health IT holds. In order to spur local conversation around the subject, the WTIA hosted an event last night titled, “Healthcare-IT—Innovations That Will Transform Healthcare Now and in the Future,” to a nearly sold-out crowd of over 240 at Herban Feast in SoDo.
Moderated by Joel French, the founder and managing director of Nephalios Group, the panel contained representatives that ran the gamut of the health IT conversation from employee wellness (Henry Albrecht, CEO of Limeade) to pharmacy (Carla Corkern, CEO and chairman of Talyst) to patient care (Luis Machuca, CEO Kryptiq) to insurance (Mohan Nair, executive vice president and CMO of Regence) to medical records (Michael Raymer, global market strategist and general manager for Microsoft’s Health Solutions Group).
After French’s opening statements about the four main issues at the center of the health IT debate (cost, quality, access/coverage, wellness), many enthusiastic attendees lined up for the entire hour and a half for their chance to pick the brains of the elite panel. Greg Huang of Xconomy Seattle nicely summarized several of the tougher questions brought forward in a blog post here. Boiling down the passionate dialogue, most people were interested in the issue of data liquidity (aka ‘the magic pill’) and security of electronic health records. While several panelists agreed to politely disagree on a couple topics, the overall consensus was that we still have a long way to go with educating consumers, legislators, companies, and doctors on the ‘how’s” and “why’s” of improved health IT.
All in all, the event was a huge success! We’re already looking forward to the next two events: Fall Networking at Pike Brewery [September 30] and the 12th Annual Oktoberfest at Redhook Brewery [October 7]. We hope to see you there!