It’s not too late to make plans for the Lone Star State, as HealthTech 2000 at the end of this month hosts its sixth annual conference and exposition for the management, service, support and integration of healthcare technology.
HealthTech 2000 is set for the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas from Sunday, April 30 through Wednesday, May 3.
As in previous years, HealthTech 2000 will provide the latest in relevant, practical business solutions to thrive in today’s and tomorrow’s healthcare environment.
From service-oriented programs to the most successful market strategies, industry leaders will conduct HealthTech 2000 workshops and seminars with how-to knowledge to achieve the greatest potential for your business or career. This year, HealthTech 2000 again welcomes the seminar and exhibit contributions from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) and the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE).
Two Sunday afternoon April 30th workshops kick off HealthTech 2000. Wayne Hibbs, president of the consulting firm C. Wayne Hibbs & Associates (Dallas) hosts “MAPS: Medical Asset Project Systems: An Internet Equipment Manager.” Hibbs describes MAPS as an integrated system to coordinate the information needed in medical equipment planning, maintenance and project management.
Also on Sunday, Ken Compton, director of strategic marketing for Clinton Electronics Corp. (Rockford, Ill.), discusses “Specifying Displays: The Knowledge Tools You Need.” Compton’s session will provide an understanding of manufacturers’ language and how to extract vital information to make critical decisions in the implementation of quality softcopy imaging.
The workshops move into full swing on Monday, May 1st, when Medical Imaging Editorial Director Mary Tierney will discuss “Everything You Need to Know About the Digital X-ray Marketplace.” This session includes an overview of CCD and flat-panel digital radiography technology, technology buzz words that matter in distinguishing systems as well as its current market standing and future potential in healthcare.
With the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) looming, Jeremy Wyant, senior technologist of CyberTrust (Needham Heights, Mass.), offers “An Introduction to Public Key Infrastructure” and how PKI technology can provide security to transmit confidential documents over Internet-based networks.
Myron Hartman, MS, CCE, director of clinical engineering for Jefferson Health Services (Pittsburgh), has “Capital Budget Planning” on his agenda. The presentation will review a process used to budget, review and approve items requested for capital budgeting. The objectives include understanding what information is necessary for an accurate equipment database for capital budget planning and the process for prioritizing recommended items.
“Outsourcing Imaging Services” is the topic at hand for Philip Ronning, chairman of the Technology Risk Management Group (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.). Imaging can be an ideal function to outsource. This session defines the criteria for outsourcing and describes the sourcing process within the context of strategic planning.
“What’s New in Asset Management?” is answered by a panel of industry leaders led by Malcolm Ridgway, Ph.D., CTO of Masterplan (Chatsworth, Calif.). As the squeeze on healthcare dollars continues, so does the interest in asset management as a means to become more efficient.
Consultant Joel E. Gray, Ph.D., (Rochester, Minn.) makes “Medical Imaging Equipment Purchasing: Dollars and Sense” with counsel on prudent purchasing decisions which are as cost effective as possible.
Tuesday begins with keynote speaker William R. Hendee, Ph.D., senior associate dean and vice president of the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee). Hendee’s presentation on “Professional Development in Healthcare Technologies Management” will include details on a graduate program in this discipline between the Medical College of Wisconsin and Marquette University (Milwaukee).
On Tuesday, look for Data General Corp.’s (Westborough, Mass.) PACS Operations Manager Ken Waldbillig to review “PACS at the Turn of the Century.” With picture archiving communications systems (PACS) fast becoming a reality, Waldbillig shows how to eliminate costs and increase patient care capabilities with this electronic technology.
Ajit Singh, vice president in Siemens Medical Sytems Inc.’s (Iselin, N.J.) Health Services division, looks at “PACS Readiness for the Next Millennium.” Radiology is undergoing a paradigm shift enabled, in part, by PACS and radiology information systems. Singh discusses whether U.S. healthcare providers are ready for radiology’s new information infrastructure.
Singh returns Tuesday afternoon to review “Cardiology Information Systems: Enablers for Outcomes Management.” While cardiology information systems appear closely aligned to cardiology, they permeate the entire healthcare enterprise and acquire, interpret, archive and distribute cardiology-based diagnostic and interventional information across the enterprise.
Mike Severns, SASHE, director of facilities for St. Patrick Hospital (Missoula, Mont.), and James Lussier, CEO of St. Charles Medical Center (Bend, Ore.), offer “A New Approach in Technology Management for Healthcare.” This session will take a look at technology management and the challenges, frustrations and successes experienced by healthcare professionals throughout the country.
“Potential Legal Problems with Major Investments in Radiological Technology” is hosted by Ronald S. Katz, partner in the law firm of Coudert Bros. (San Francisco). When a hospital invests substantial sums in major radiological equipment, numerous legal problems may arise. Such legal problems can occur in the bidding process, in the contracting process or if the devices are not working properly.
Anthony Montagnolo, director of technology assessment for ECRI (Plymouth Metting, Pa.), reviews “Health Technology Strategy 2000: Reaping Real Rewards from Healthcare Technology.” With more technology choices and an increasing pressure to control costs, the need for a better model of technology decision-making has become essential to every healthcare provider.
HealthTech 2000 workshops wind down on Wednesday with a session on “Lessons Learned From Y2K.” Jim Keller, director of ECRI’s Health Devices Group, Steve Wexler, chief and VA biomedical engineer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Steven Juett, director of biomedical engineering at Baylor University Medical Center (Dallas), host the workshop.
The session discusses how experience from managing the Year 2000 problem can help improve programs, such as disaster planning, equipment procurement and institution-wide project management. 
