At the recent Swaay.Health LIVE conference, over 300 healthcare marketers and communications professionals connected in San Diego to share their innovative ideas and strategies for navigating the health IT industry. Attendees and speakers included providers, c-levels, health systems, health IT vendors, nonprofits, and more.
John Lynn (founder of Healthcare Scene and Swaay.Health), Colin Hung (Chief Editor at Swaay.Health), and Brittany Quemby (VP of Marketing & Editor at Healthcare IT Today & Swaay.Health) facilitated a conference that was anything but boring, with a variety of sessions and engaging speakers. But while we all gathered to talk about health IT, there was one message that shone through: putting patients and providers first.
Once John and Colin kicked off the event, they welcomed their patient keynote, Shereese Maynard to the stage. Shereese is the co-founder of NostraData Medical, the founder of codeswitchMD.com, and was named one of Becker’s Top Women to Know in Health IT, but on day one of Swaay.Health LIVE, she was there to talk about a different experience: her patient story.
When faced with her own health challenges, Shereese reminded us of how complicated the healthcare system can be to navigate, and why everyone in the industry must strive to make communication easier for patients, improve access, and reduce friction. It was powerful to be reminded that at the end of the day, EHR solutions are here to serve patients and improve care for everyone.
Not only that, but Shereese also won the Video of the Year award as part of the Swaay.Health awards that were presented!
In panels and breakout sessions, real conversations with fellow healthcare marketing, PR, and communications professionals shared their thoughts on how to improve the health IT industry. Across the event, speakers focused on building trust and transparency in healthcare, and explored the ways health IT can elevate both patient care and the provider experience.
What’s keeping healthcare leaders up at night?
Here’s what Swaay.Health’s panel of healthcare leaders had to say:
- Transparency about AI
- Increased cybersecurity risks
- Cost savings and conservative spending in an uncertain economy
I was excited this year to have Eric Bernsen, a member of our own MEDITECH marketing team, speak on a panel about how vendors can stand out in a noisy healthcare market. Eric shared how transparency, the right communication tools, and elevating the voices of your customers can all add to your organization’s success.
MEDITECH customers were also recognized at the event, with Valley Health System winning an award for Patient Experience Program of the Year.
Valley Health System's new $868 million smart hospital in Paramus, NJ, focuses on a technology-driven, patient-centered experience. By engaging all stakeholders, including patients, in the planning process, they created a facility with interactive displays for patient control, RFID technology for staff identification, AI-powered ambient monitors for safety, and optimized infrastructure for comfort and efficiency. This thoughtful implementation of technology and patient-centric design has resulted in positive feedback from patients and providers, positioning Valley Health System as a leader in technologically progressive healthcare.
Phoebe Putney Health System was also recognized at the event, winning two awards for Marketing Campaign of the Year and Press Release/Press Event of the Year. By conducting a series of powerful video interviews with patients and sharing an uplifting story from its new Trauma & Critical Care Tower, Phoebe Putney continues to operate with a 'patient-first' strategy that is fostering a strong connection with their community and improving continuity of care.
As healthcare seems to evolve at an ever increasing pace, it is always helpful to connect with others in the health IT industry and share our thoughts on how we can improve the provider and patient experiences, foster innovation, and build strong partnerships with healthcare organizations.
Keep an eye on Swaay.Health for their announcement about next year’s event. While I had a great time in San Diego, it is looking like Swaay.Health will be heading back to the East Coast next year, and will be an especially short drive for the team here at MEDITECH. We’ll see you then!
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