July 22, 2021

By Mike Silverstein, Managing Partner – Healthcare IT & Life Sciences at Direct Recruiters, Inc.

After the upheaval and uncertainty of the pandemic, HIMSS has announced their plans for the 2021 conference both in-person and digitally. Taking place in Las Vegas on August 9th to August 13th, healthcare executives and industry experts will meet as they have for nearly 60 years in this 3-day conference. While HIMSS 2021 will certainly be a different event than it has in the past, our team at Direct Recruiters is looking forward to attending both virtually and in-person to connect with leading healthcare technology professionals.

As we gear up for HIMSS, we put together helpful tips to prepare for a great experience for HIMSS 2021.

Navigating Lingering COVID-19 Questions

As COVID-19 is still impacting budgets, conferences, events, and travel, the decision to attend HIMSS 2021 in-person can’t be made as lightly as previous years. For some, the pandemic may have drastically reduced their budgets for travel and conferences, while others are struggling with health and safety fears of attending an in-person event. No matter the situation, there are resources to help ease attendees’ minds and give them the reassurance they need to make HIMSS a beneficial experience.

For example, HIMSS now has a Health and Safety Hub that answers questions about the protocols for attendees, exhibitors, and staff on-site at HIMSS. In addition, there are companies coming up with creative solutions for those who are attending the conference this year. In preparation for COVID-induced challenges, Envision Health, a Marketing and PR consulting firm, is helping their growing list of clients and partners navigate uncertainties of this first in-person conference following the aftermath of the pandemic. They developed the Envision Health Collaborative to introduce innovative strategies to reduce cost by offering a variety of packages, and a-la-carte options specifically intended to make the conference more cost effective and productive for small and mid-tier participants. “By pooling resources together, the Envision Health Collaborative is creating a new option to gain the economies of scale necessary to make a major impact for companies who may not have all the resources to get the most out of HIMSS” said Tim Busche, MBA, President and CEO of Envision Health.

Pre-Event Scheduling

Whether attending virtually or in-person, it is important to lay out a game plan for yourself and your team prior to attending HIMSS. Research the schedule for the event including keynote speakers, sessions, and exhibitors to plan out your own personal agenda; noting the must-attend sessions and who you would like to prioritize meeting with. You can even build your schedule on the HIMSS mobile app. Being organized in advance can help you to schedule meet-ups and networking opportunities smoothly prior to arriving in Las Vegas.

Networking Before the Event

It is always helpful to take advantage of social media before, during and after HIMSS. Follow HIMSS social media channels and use the #HIMSS21 hashtag in order to connect with others and stay up to date on any news surrounding the event. Be sure to post any photos and insights using the hashtag to gain traction with other attendees and your network.

Practical Advice

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes if attending in-person, bring business cards and wear your nametag. You will be doing a lot of walking so make sure to prepare for that. In addition, make sure to take notes and stay focused during the event; writing down who you meet, interesting facts, reminders to yourself and more. Staying as engaged as possible during HIMSS is the best way to make the most of your experience.

Whether this is your first time attending HIMSS, or you have gone several years, use these tips to make the most of the opportunity. Enjoy the conference!