By Keri Forsythe-Stephens
It’s been years since I’ve visited Austin, Texas, but the city’s unique culture will forever stand out to me. For starters, Austin’s barbeque is out of this world—and then there’s the city’s unrivalled live music scene (and that’s saying a lot since I’m originally from Memphis!) But perhaps Austin’s most distinctive quality can be best summed up in the city’s unofficial motto: “Keep Austin Weird.”
That “weirdness”—or as I like to say “specialness”—will be on full display during the AAMI 2017 Conference & Expo, which takes place from June 9-June 12 at the Austin Convention Center. Personally, I can’t wait—AAMI is one of my favorite conferences of the year, and hosting it in Austin is just icing on the cake.
The exciting backdrop isn’t the only reason I’m excited for AAMI 2017, however. From an HTM perspective, no other annual conference brings together the industry quite like AAMI. And this year’s show will be no exception, with 3,000 people slated to attend—a jump from 2016’s numbers.
Speaking exclusively to 24×7 Magazine, AAMI’s president and CEO Robert Jensen shared why he’s excited about the annual conference—his first at the helm of the association. (Click here to read his letter to 24×7 readers.) “I’m coming to our Annual Conference & Expo eager to listen and learn from the healthcare technology professionals whose work is so crucial to modern medicine,” Jensen tells 24×7.
Key subjects that will be discussed at the conference include cybersecurity, big data, and stricter accreditation requirements via the Joint Commission (TJC).
As an added bonus, George Mills, TJC’s director of engineering, will present a session on the final day of the conference about the organization’s latest activities. (Make sure to get a seat early since Mills’ sessions are always packed!) There will also be a question-and-answer segment at the end of the session so attendees can ask Mills their most pressing questions.
In addition to AAMI’s stellar educational sessions, I’m also looking forward to catching up with valued readers and advertisers at AAMI 2017.
Please make sure to stop by booth #426 to say hello to me and meet my wonderful publisher, Sharon Farley, and associate editor, Elaine Sanchez Wilson. All three of us would love to pick your brains about the future of the HTM industry and hear ways you think we can improve 24×7 Magazine.
See y’all in Austin!