The 2021 AAMI eXchange has been redeveloped into a fully virtual event, the AAMI eXchange REWIRED. And while it is unfortunate that attendees won’t be able to meet in person to discuss all things health technology, the online format is able to offer new experiences and capabilities never before available to eXchange attendees. To help you better navigate the exciting five-day virtual conference, we’re providing a sampling of familiar and new moments alike that you won’t want to miss during the AAMI eXchange REWIRED.
What’s New
“I do not want this to be ‘just another virtual event.’ We’ve had enough of those after one year of the pandemic,” said Steve Campbell, acting president and CEO of AAMI. “Though we would have liked to have come together in person, we are enthusiastic about the unique opportunities of a virtual eXchange, enhanced by the simple fact that all of us – regardless of circumstances – will be able to take part.”
One key feature of AAMI eXchange REWIRED that should not be ignored is that talks and education sessions will be recorded. These recordings will be available on demand to registered individuals or teams for the rest of the 2021 year. This allows attendees to make the best use of their time without disrupting work-life balance.
Of course, there are many moments that you’ll want to catch live! Starting the day with “Good Morning HTM” is unique to the REWIRED experience. AAMI’s Danielle McGeary, vice president of healthcare technology management (HTM), and Robert Burroughs, senior vice president of education, will be co-hosting a morning broadcast that will introduce attendees to some of their favorite topics. The daily show (11 a.m. ET) will include live Q&As with special guests and will highlight the day’s lineup of speakers, education sessions and product spotlights.
Additionally, four of the online event’s five days will include another topic spotlight at 4 p.m. ET focused exclusively on AAMI’s latest initiatives, such as the national BMET apprenticeship program, recently approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Taking advantage of the online medium, eXchange REWIRED is also offering tools to harness numerous networking opportunities. Attendee networking will be supercharged with a searchable/filterable attendee directory, one-on-one chat options, video conferencing and topical attendee chat threads to accompany each session.
A virtual exhibit hall will also provide opportunities to connect directly with leading product suppliers and developers. And at 3 p.m. ET every day, the eXchange REWIRED’s platinum sponsors will be giving talks and showcasing their products and services on the main livestream.
What’s Familiar
AAMI eXchange REWIRED will include the same great educational content eXchange attendees have come to expect, with 30 hours of industry-leading learning opportunities providing the chance to earn up to 30 ACI CEUs. For professionals looking to renew their certification, that’s enough credits to cover three years! Education topics being covered at eXchange REWIRED include highlights such as…
… New Challenges and Solutions in Cybersecurity.
One subject that is becoming increasingly important to health tech communities is cybersecurity, especially as our personal and professional lives have become tethered to the Internet of Things (IoT).
AAMI eXchange REWIRED is offering sessions on cybersecurity best practices, new avenues for collaboration between hospitals and manufacturers, new strategies for security risk management and cybersecurity training to keep employees in-the-know. Most notably, AAMI knows that the cybersecurity of medical devices is no longer restricted to the hospital room or laboratory. One session to look forward to is “Cybersecurity in the Era of Telehealth, Wearables & HIoT.” It will cover how the digital transformation of health care poses new challenges for security, compliance and patient safety.
“Join us and discover the growth of artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, medical and other HIoT devices, including wearables,” said speakers Richard Stayings, MA, MS, Cylera, and Benoit Desjardins, MD, Ph.D., FACR, FAHA, University of Pennsylvania. “Together, we will consider the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI and other non-public data.”
… Catching up on Emergency-Driven Innovation
It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed medical innovation to new heights. AAMI COVID-19 Response Team Co-Chair Sandy Weininger has said that “this is the time to innovate,” adding that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorizations (EUAs) are paving the way for new ideas to help in the pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, the Response Team has witnessed the rise of $500 mechanical ventilators, intriguing “bubble helmets,” and even remote-controlled hospital rooms.
That’s why it is important for AAMI to provide an education track that gets eXchange REWIRED attendees up to speed on new technologies and emergency preparedness. A strong example of the sessions available, “Meeting the COVID-19 Challenge: Innovation in Ventilation for Healthcare Institutions” provides a brief update on airborne contamination risk in the wake of COVID-19, reviews the limitations of conventional ventilation and introduces participants to the science of Temperature-controlled Air Flow, a novel technology that is rapidly gaining adoption in Europe.
Additionally, panels such as “COVID-19’s Impact on the Future of Healthcare and HTM” will showcase the varied insights and experiences from different hospitals and consultants as they attempt to predict the resulting long-term impacts of COVID-19 and the new ideas this pandemic have inspired.
… Training and Succession Planning in the Digital Age
The eXchange REWIRED will be offering multiple sessions dedicated to improving the quality of training programs within your department. Health technology management, cybersecurity and sterility assurance managing professionals can learn crucial steps for ensuring staff and new hires are prepared to tackle new responsibilities.
A reflection of the times, several sessions will be exploring strategies for virtually training employees. In “Use of Augmented Reality Optimizes HTM Staffing at Remote Locations,” a team from the Veterans Health Administration will be explaining how the use of augmented reality can optimize HTM staffing at remote locations; while in “Virtual Reality – Training for the Future,” St. Clair College educators will discuss how VR allows a single app to train HTM professionals in the use of new equipment even before it arrives.
What We’re All Anticipating
During the virtual meeting, two keynote speakers help explain how to enrich and empower a workplace during difficult times.
Author Jim Knight honed his revolutionary approach to strong leadership, organizational cultures and exceptional guest service over two decades as the senior director of training and development at Hard Rock International. On Wednesday, he will offer fresh, new insights on organizational cultures, including practical leadership initiatives that can be immediately implemented.
And on Monday, motivational speaker Brad Montgomery will provide a humorous and inspirational take on how to motivate teammates, encouraging positivity, optimism and meaningfulness within organizations.
“Focusing on the people side of business not only improves the bottom line,” said Montgomery, “it can be enormously satisfying, inspiring and sometimes very funny.”
The AAMI eXchange REWIRED talks will wrap up on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. ET with a very anticipated keynote speaker. Attendees will get a rare opportunity to meet a leader from the Joint Commission in an interactive session. Herman McKenzie, director of the department of engineering in the standards interpretation group, leads the team responsible in developing and interpreting the life safety and environment of care standards. Come with questions and have them answered in real time!
The expanded schedule for 2021 will ensure that there is always something new to see at AAMI eXchange REWIRED, and you’ll be able to design a high-impact schedule perfectly tailored to your interests. It is AAMI’s hope that you’ll join us to connect with your colleagues and gain new knowledge of products, standards and regulations.
To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/eXchangeREWIRED.