The opioid epidemic doesn’t discriminate, said Afton Wagner, senior manager, federal affairs & pharmacy initiatives at HIMSS. “What’s very alarming to everyone is that there’s really no indication that this epidemic is slowing down any time soon, as the death tolls for opioid overdoses continue to be on the rise.” In 2016, overdoses involving opioids took more than 42,000 lives in the U.S.

“Change is the law of life. Those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” The U.S. was already two years into a galactic-sized change management exercise aimed at altering how humankind saw its place in the universe when President John F. Kennedy said those wise words.

Certifications are the hallmark of any quickly evolving field, and obtaining them demonstrates your dedication to furthering your professional knowledge and skill set. Currently, HIMSS offers three certifications.

On July 12, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their proposed changes to the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) which include their proposed updates to the Quality Payment Program (QPP) in the Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2019; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements Proposed Rule. Read full details.

In an ever-changing environment, healthcare organization leaders need to be prepared to handle myriad challenges. How do you start? What can you put in your leadership ‘file cabinet’ to access during a crisis? How well institutions respond directly relates to the ability of their leadership teams to think, plan, respond, adapt, and lead their teams through the challenges ahead. Read more.

Nominate an influential woman in health Information and technology before July 23, 2018. This awards program recognizes influential women at all stages of their careers. Contact awards@himss.org with questions.

Recognize someone who is making a difference in healthcare! Celebrate the contributions of someone you know by nominating them for a HIMSS Health Information and Technology Award! This year's awards include:  

• HIMSS Chapter Awards
• HIMSS Most Influential Women in Health Information and Technology Awards
• HIMSS Service Awards
• Industry Service Awards
• The Kate Granger Compassionate Care Award Presented by HIMSS North America

Contact awards@himss.org with questions.

The HIMSS Interoperability Showcase™ will be traveling to the PHI Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on August 20-23, 2018. Live demonstrations will highlight how electronic standards‐based health information exchange (HIE) brings critical knowledge to the right people at the right time. This collaboration with NACCHO and the CDC will demonstrate how seamless health information exchange in public health can contribute to improve outcomes, engage consumers, and support regulations. For more information, please see the conference website.

U.S. National Health IT Week, held October 8-12, 2018, is a nationwide awareness week focused on the value of healthcare IT. It is an independent week made up of partner-driven events offering healthcare stakeholders an opportunity to unite under one banner, one message: the benefits health information technology can bring to U.S. healthcare. More information on how partner organizations and individuals can participate will be available shortly. Mark your calendars and visit www.healthitweek.org for updates.