How to Be the Perfect Healthcare Conference Attendee - When You'd Rather Be Somewhere Else

Attending conferences, forums and/or institutes is a lot of fun and a rewarding experience for most people. These events can be great ways to gain awareness of what’s going on in the industry, expand your network and learn actionable methods to add value via your day to day work. But for some people, sitting through a few days of presentations one after another, many of which pitch the same information liberally sprinkled with thinly-veiled company product information, conference attendance can be a real chore.

For those people who could care less about a specific topic being presented but who want to derive some value nonetheless, here are ten tips for being the perfect healthcare conference attendee – when you’d rather be somewhere else.

Ten Ways to Maximize Attendance at a Presentation

1. Sit in front, near the presenter

This applies only if you plan to stay awake; if you don't, see item #8 below. If you're going to all the trouble of attending the presentation and making a good impression, the presenter should get a chance to see your act.

2. Look alert. Keep your eyes on the presenter

If you MUST consult your watch, don't stare at it unbelievingly; or shake it.

3. Make a great show of taking notes

The presenter will believe you’re paying rapt attention. If used wisely, the gimmick of asking him or her to repeat a particularly significant statement is a good way to call out your presence. (Don't do this more often than twice in a single presentation)

4. Nod frequently and murmur, "How true!"

To you, this seems exaggerated; to the presenter, it is quite objective.

5. Tweet out some links to posts related to the topic being presented

This operation demonstrates fiery interest, and gives others some content to discuss and share with others. If you can't find anything related to the topic at hand, just share anything you find. Most healthcare thought-leaders think everything deals with their subject anyway.

6. Laugh at the presenter’s jokes

You CAN tell when a joke has been made. A clue: If the presenter looks up from his or her notes and smiles expectantly, he or she has just told a joke.

7. Ask for outside readings or special references

You don't have to read anything that may be provided to you. Just ask for it.

8. If you sleep, set an alarm to be woken a few minutes before the session is over

It may create an unpleasant impression if the rest of the attendees have left and you’re sitting there alone, dozing.

9. Ask only questions you believe the presenter can answer

This is so obvious it doesn't require any commentary.

10. Call attention to the presenter’s publications

This ploy produces an exquisitely pleasant feeling within the presenter, which becomes associated with you. Hint: If you discover your presenter has written a book or article, ask if he or she wrote it. Be sure to express appropriate reverence.

It Works. Try It.If you are a professional, do any of these thoughts bring back memories of your college days? 

For more information on healthcare conferences and events - specifically those related to information technology, products and services, consider following @HITConfGuy and @ShimCode on Twitter.

Note: The above was adapted from “How to Stay in College” by Robert Tyson of Hunter College. 

Almost 30 Tips for Attending the 2016 HIMSS Conference (Or Any Conference)

Sometimes the comments on a blog post have information that is just as good – or even better – than the post itself. This blog post titled “12 Ways to Get the Most Out of Attending a Conference” is a perfect example of where reader comments were every bit as insightful as the post itself. I’ve pulled out ideas and tips for attending conferences from that post and am sharing them here for your conference-going pleasure. Thanks to all the commenters who supplied these ideas.

Pre-planning & Travel

1. Consider investing in a nice looking backpack or messenger bag. You’ll need it for chargers, snacks, water bottles, jackets, etc. And all those conference materials and vendor handouts.

2. Wear comfortable shoes and dress in comfortable, nice-looking clothes!!

In the words of Thurstson Howell III’s wife Lovey, one never knows whom one might meet. And you never know what could come from that meeting.

3. Plan ahead for quick trips to charge your phone/device charge and get a snack.

4. And don’t forget the freebies. Only pack your bag half fill with clothes to make room for them. And be choosy about what you take. If there’ something really good, take as many as they’ll let you get away with.

5. Don’t be fooled by maps. Get clear directions to where you are going. Orlando isn’t Vegas but it’s not Mayberry either.

6. Bring a sweater or jacket to every session. So many of those big conference rooms are FREEZING. Recommend layers. You can take one off and put it in that backpack or messenger bag mentioned above.

7. Maximize your conference: pick up new skills, learn about trends in your field, and make networking contacts

8. Set aside a “vendor block”. HIMSS conference have LOTS ofvendors which means lots to discover as well as specific vendors you'll want to see. Pick a 2+ hour block out of your schedule to do nothing but walk the vendor hall. And make sure you have some downtime after that block too. This is easier than trying to sneak in vendor visits between sessions.

Conference Sessions

1. Go to a session that has a subject you know little or nothing about; you just might learn something and find a new passion.

2. Pick out alternative sessions to attend if your first one does not work out, and your route to get there quickly. Sometimes the room is full. Sometimes presenters don’t show. Sometimes the session just plain sucks and is nothing like the description.

3. Don’t be afraid to leave a bad session. If it is clear that a session is not what you thought it would be, leave. Go to one of your second choice sessions and do not spend 30-60 minutes sitting in an unproductive session.

4. When you are in an awesome session, tweet about it. People stuck in bad sessions will see your tweet and can move to your room to see a great speaker they would have otherwise missed.

5. Don’t tweet about how bad a session is; but if the speaker doesn’t show or something similarly disastrous happens, alert others to that so they do not waste their time walking down there.

6. Consider occasionally splitting your sessions. If the first speaker of one session is interesting, and the third speaker of another, get up and go to the other session. Make sure you sit at the back of the room so you can leave unobtrusively between sessions. Do not do this all the time, because you want to end the session in a room with people you want to talk with.

Networking at Conferences

1. Talk to the celebrities of your profession. Those hot shot people who do keynotes, lightning talks, etc? They are normal people too. And most of them are very excited about what they do and want to share with others, so they can give you some great conference advice.

2. Be nice and introduce them to other folks you know.

3. Don’t be afraid to approach strangers.

4. Look for semi-professional social gatherings like user group meetings, meetups, sub-discipline meetings, etc. There are many unofficial and official tweetups in various public areas and restaurants near the conference and they're a good way to force yourself out of room service and into meeting more people

5. Make time to socialize outside your pack. If there’s a luncheon, let them know you are going to sit with others to spread your wonderfulness.

6. Want an easy excuse to talk to industry celebrities? Do a photo safari. Set a goal to collect as many pictures as you can of yourself with those industry celebrities. Feel free to even tell them that you are doing a photo safari, it makes a good ice-breaker. It will also help you plan out how to meet these people.

Using Twitter at a Conference Session

1. Use Twitter socially. You can find out about networking opportunities and where people are going for dinner or early evening drinks. This is especially a great tool for the introverted, as you can gather good information and focus your social time to be as effective as possible before you start to tire out.

2. Tweet. If you don’t use twitter, start learning, because a conference is one of the most useful professional situations for twitter.

3. Follow the conference back channel on Twitter where you can found out about neat things on and off the agenda. Sometimes there is a Tweet Up before the conference, a gathering where people can put faces to handles for conference twitter users.

Warning…Warning!

1. Don’t make non-work plans for the evenings.

2. A late night in the bar will trash you for the whole of the following day.

3. Think twice about going to the hotel bar after 9pm to talk further with conference people. This is generally when the hooking-up-at-conferences stuff starts getting kicked off

4. Don’t use a professional event as your opportunity for social justice warrioring or politicking or proselytizing.

Ending Each Day

1. End each working day by reviewing your notes, the panels you attended, the people you talked to, etc and jotting down action items or ideas to bring back to the office.


2. Doing so at the end of the day nets better results than doing it at the end of the conference. Once you’re back in the office, it’s too late — the pressing matters of the delayed work waiting for you will be overwhelming.

For more information on the HIMSS conference and healthcare information technology, consider following @HITConfGuy and/or @ShimCode.

How to Gracefully Exit a Conversation That’s Going Nowhere at #HIMSS Conference

There will probably come a time during the 2015 HIMSS Conference in Chicago where you’ll find yourself trapped talking with a vendor, another attendee or a group of attendees in a conversation that’s going nowhere. You’re chatting with someone who won’t let you get a word in edgewise or someone is wasting time whining about their boss. What do you do? Do you grin and bear it? Or make up some excuse for why you have to leave on the double, jump ship, or head for the exits?

The Professional Approach

The “How to Network at a Conference” post on WikiHow provides a great approach as to “How to Excuse Yourself Gracefully. http://www.wikihow.com/Network-at-a-Conference

“There will be times when someone you're networking with doesn't turn out to be someone you want to connect with. Alternatively, you might start to realize that the other person does not appear that interested in talking with you. In either case, excuse yourself politely, thank the person for his or her time, and continue your networking with other members of the conference.”

That’s the easy and probably the proper way to handle the situation. Here are some other tried and true exit strategies beyond the very direct “Excuse me, but I don’t want to talk to you anymore”:

The Positive Comment
“Steve, it was really a pleasure speaking with you about [Topic]. I’m going to take a look at some of the other exhibits here, but if I don’t run into you later, I hope to see you at another event soon.”

The Plan
“Please let me know how that project goes, I’d love to see it and hear how it turns out.” 

“Have you seen anyone from [company name] tonight? I’ve been meaning to chat with them.” 

The Excuse
“I need to use the bathroom, but I'm sure I'll see you around.” 

(Just don’t walk ten feet away and start talking to someone else, your former conversation partner is going to know you lied and dumped them)

“I don't want to take up all your time; it was great meeting you!”

Bow out when others join the conversation.
This is a standard, tried and true method. Once other people join the circle of conversation and things get going between your old partner(s), you slip away.

What Else?

Consider following me on Twitter for more information about the 2015 HIMSS Conference and other Health Information Technology Conferences in North America.

Free: News Release Template for #HIMSS15 Vendors

I’ve been seeing and receiving a lot of news releases in the last couple weeks. They all seem to read the same and repeat the same fluffy phrases and boring exec-speak. With all due respect to marketing experts who must know way more than me, do people even read these things anymore? They seem so 80’s. (Frankly I wonder why some of these firms are sending them to me.)

So if you’re thinking of sending out a news release, I’ve put together a template to speed the creation of your news release. All you need to do is supply seven simple data points and you'll have what 98% of the universe of vendors usually provide in their press releases.

[COMPANY NAME]

[PRODUCT OR SERVICE NAME]

[BOOTH #]

[BIG SHOT NAME]

[LOFTY TITLE OF BIG SHOT]

[COMPANY WEB SITE URL]

[MEDIA CONTACT INFO]

Want to stand out from the crowd? Then don’t use this template but provide some real information of value in your news release.

The Template

[City] [Date] /PRNewswire/ [INSERT COMPANY NAME] is excited to announce it will be attending the HIMSS 2015 conference – bringing its [INSERT PRODUCT OR SERVICE NAME] to the exhibit floor for the 2015 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition in Chicago from April 12-16, 2015. The firm is proud to be an exhibitor at this annual event that helps health IT professionals find the right solutions for their organizations. [INSERT COMPANY NAME] will be at Booth [INSERT BOOTH #] from April 13-15. 

"We're thrilled to be a part of HIMSS15. The conference brings together an outstanding group of organizations and industry experts to discuss how we can improve healthcare in this country. [INSERT COMPANY NAME] is looking forward to attending and sharing our own experiences and successes in the area of health IT," said [INSERT BIG SHOT NAME HERE], [INSERT LOFTY TITLE OF BIG SHOT HERE].

More than 38,000 healthcare industry professionals are expected to attend HIMSS 2015 to discuss health IT issues and view innovative solutions designed to transform healthcare. Conference education sessions include preconference symposia on clinical and business analytics, HIEs, innovation, mobile health, nursing informatics, physicians' IT and more. More than 300 peer-reviewed sessions, including workshops and roundtables, round out education offerings at HIMSS15.

About [INSERT COMPANY NAME]

[INSERT COMPANY NAME] is a global firm that delivers unique value, relevant big ideas and strategic business capabilities to clients around the world. The firm solves complex business problems for clients in multiple industries through an integrated approach and offers specialty services and any products you could possibly need. If you want it, we got it. 

For more information visit [INSERT COMPANY WEB SITE URL HERE] and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, FourSquare, Tumblr, Google+, Friendster, Ning, Plaxo, YouTube, Flickr, Picasa, Blogspot, WordPress, Instagram, Quora, Yelp, Scribd, SlideShare, StubleUpon, Reddit, Buffer, Yahoo, Vimeo, Pinterest and Facebook. And oh yeah, MySpace too.

Media Contact:
Media Contact:
[INSERT MEDIA CONTACT INFO HERE]

More Tips for Connecting with New People at HIMSS

Here are some more ideas to help you generate the most value and fun from your conference attendance.

Skip the Keynote!
Unless you can't think of anything better to do, skip the keynote. You’ll spend more time waiting around than listening to the keynote. You can listen to the keynote online later on. Or catch the highlights on Twitter.

Deal with Lines When You Must
You can’t get away from lines. So you may as well embrace them. Chat it up with those around you. Consider this: Out of the hundreds of sessions at this conference, you and your “line-mates” have chosen what’s at the end of this particular conference line you’re waiting in. There’s your ice-breaker.

There’s No Place Like Home
Establish a home base at the conference center to which you can retreat at any given time. A centralized spot or a random seating area off on the perimeter can be a much-needed refuge from the madness.

Buddy Up with a “Wing-Person”
Hunters and gatherers often roam in packs to maximize opportunity; and they join and leave groups as specific needs evolve. Be a hunter or a gatherer at the conference: consider hooking up – for 10 minutes or 2 hours - with one or more people you meet as you roam the conference.

Reach Out to Speakers and Presenters
Make even the smallest effort to connect with the speakers and presenters. If you arrive early and see someone milling around at the front of a room, it’s probably a speaker or support person. Go ahead and introduce yourself. During the session, tweet a question or comment at the presenter. Thank them afterwards.

More to Come!
The HIMSS Conference is a great opportunity to expand your network and sphere of knowledge. For more tips and information on the 2015 HIMSS Conference in Chicago, consider following me on Twitter.

The Totally Unofficial Guide to #HIMSS15 Hashtags

Many attendees of the 2015 Health Information and Management Systems Society conference in Chicago know the official list of hashtags used for the conference. The HIMSS organization has defined this Official #HIMSS15 Hashtag Guide.

Here’s the totally unofficial, unsanctioned, probably not approved by the lawyers and certain to offend someone list of Unofficial #HIMSS15 Hashtags.

Updated on 4/10/15 @ 10:43 PST: Added #HIMSSFashion & #HIMSSStalker

Unofficial #HIMSS15 Hashtags
Warning! Be extremely thoughtful, cautious and careful using these powerful hashtags. Lives, reputations, employment status and marriages can be unduly impacted with their careless use.

#HIMSSBestSpeaker 
- Used to note a particularly good conference speaker or presenter.

#HIMSSBling
- Call out vendors giving out good booth swag or prizes. See also #HIMSSSwag and #HIMSSSwagRat. To note vendors giving out lame swag, add the #HIMSSMustAvoid hashtag.

#HIMSSBlingRat
- A person who visits vendor booths solely for the handouts/bling/swag. Typically identified by someone carrying multiple bulging bags and running from booth to booth. Often seen multiple times at the same vendor booths tagged with #HIMSSSwag and #HIMSSMustSee. See also #HIMSSSwagRat.

#HIMSSBoothBabe
- An attractive or nice looking female booth attendee. See also #HIMSSBoothStud

#HIMSSBoothStud
- A attractive or nice looking male booth attendee. See also #HIMSSBoothBade

#HIMSSBro
- A male conference attendee. See also #HIMSSChick.

#HIMSSBrownNoser
- A session attendee tossing out over the top compliments to the session presenter.

#HIMSSChick
- A female conference attendee. Not to be confused with #HITChicks which are a superset of #HIMSSChicks due to their above average health IT intelligence, exceptional poise and both inner and outer beauty AND their exclusive association with the #HITChicks LinkedIn Group. See also #HIMSSBro.

#HIMSSDanceOff
- A challenge to prove the HealthIT-niess of two or more attendees. Often used to challenge a potential poser to prove his or her HealthIT-niess. As in "I challenge you to a #HIMSSDanceOff - right now @TechGuy!"

#HIMSSFashion
- Used to call out a well-dressed conference or booth attendee.

#HIMSSFood
- Used to call out an on or off-site eating opportunity – whether a must-see or must-avoid place. Include the optional #HIMSSMustSee or #HIMSSMustAvoid to further qualify the eating opportunity.

#HIMSSLackey
- A HIMSS staffer who works behind the scenes with little to no recognition or praise. Likely highly intelligent, low paid and humble. See also #HIMSSPawn.

#HIMSSMustAvoid
- Identifies a booth, session, restaurant or other place that must be avoided at all costs. See also #HIMSSMustSee

#HIMSSMustSee
- Identifies a booth, session, restaurant or other place that is a must-see for all attendees. See also #HIMSSMustAvoid

#HIMSSPawn
- Identifies a conference attendee, vendor person or support staff that does a lot of work without any attention, recognition or glory. See also #HIMSSLackey

#HIMSSPickupLines
- A line that can be used in an attempt to meet a member of the opposite sex.

#HIMSSPics
- Any picture of the HIMSS Conference Event. See also #HIMSSSelfie

#HIMSSSeatHog
- A person who takes up more than one seat and/or reserves more than one seat at a keynote address, education session or resting place. Show your scorn for #HIMSSSeatHogs by taking and posting a picture of their hoginess. Be sure to include the #HIMSSPic hashtag too.

#HIMSSelfies
- Used to identify a "selfie" - which is a picture taken by an individual of themselves or a group surrounding the picture taker.

Note: This tag was originally conceived by Mandi Bishop (aka @MandiBPro). Note her use of 2 "S's" - So this may also be used to note little tiny elf's seen at HIMSS. You know...An "elf" as in a supernatural creature of folk tales, typically represented as a small, elusive figure in human form with pointed ears, magical powers, and a capricious nature.

#HIMSSSwag
- Used to identify a vendor handing out good booth bling. See also #HIMSSBling, #HIMSSBlingRat and #HIMSSSwagRat.

#HIMSSSwagRat
- A person who visits vendor booths solely for the handouts/swag/bling. See also #HIMSSBlingRat

Additions - 3/11/15
Thanks to HIMSS Social Media Ambassador Linda Stotsky aka. @EMRAnswers for the following unofficial hashtags. Definition and commentary added by @HITConfGuy.

#HIMSSParty
- Identifies parties held before, during and after the event and days of the event.

#HIMSSMeetup
- Identifies meetup’s and conversations held before, during and after the conference.

#HIMSSH2O
- Identifies locations for obtaining water and other beverages. Keep this one handy! Remember what happened in New Orleans last year? See also #HIMSSJava, #HIMSSCandy and #HIMSSTreat

#HIMSSJava
- Identifies locations for obtaining coffee and other fuels to keep you going during the conference. See also #HIMSSH2O

#HIMSSShoes
- Used to identify cool, classy, nice, crazy and otherwise extraordinary footwear seen around the conference center. (as in "Did u see those shoes @MandiBPro is wearing??? #HIMSSShoes #HIMSSMustSee)

#HIMSSCameos
- Used to note the appearance of a famous or semi-famous person like keynote speakers sGeorge W. Bush and Karen DeSalvo. Maybe Health IT Luminaries like Brian Ahier, Chicago native Mr. T or maybe Geraldo Rivera - who apparently had something for Chicago guy Al Capone?

#HIMSSInterview
- Flags scheduled and impromptu interviews you’d like to share with others.

#HIMSSGadgets
- Identify cool gadgets and other things you’d like to call out to others.

#HIMSSCandy
- As in all of it, where is it and how good was it. See also #HIMSSJava and HIMSSTreat.

#HIMSSTreat
- Identifies any edibles and where they're available. Be sure to include clear directions to the location. See also #HIMSSJava and #HIMSSCandy.

Additions - 4/09/15
Thanks to John Lynn @TechGuy for the #HIMSSHaze hashtag. Definition and commentary added by @HITConfGuy.

#HIMSSHaze
- a slight obscuration of mental acuity prior to and often during the HIMSS Conference, typically caused by well meaning but misguided vendor PR people inundating media with last minute requests for meetings. synonyms: #HIMSSMist, #HIMSSFog.

Additions - 4/10/15

#HIMSSFashion - Used to note the classy, stylish wardrobe, accessories and/or manner of behavior of certain select HIMSS attendees.  A HIMSS attendee classified with the #HIMSSFashion hashtag has a strong belief and demonstrates that fashion, form and function are not mutually exclusive. Origination of this hashtag is attributed to the classy, stylish and well-behaved (as far as one can tell) Dr. Geeta Nayyar @gnayyar.

#HIMSSStalker – a HIMSS attendee or person who stealthily hunts or relentlessly pursues a specific person, vendor or topic in the realm of health information technology. For instance, Charles Webster might be considered a workflow #HIMSSStalker. Origination of this hashtag is attributed to the complex, yet adaptive theoricist Ryan Lucas @dz45tr

Note that in some instances it is appropriate to use multiple hashtags to further qualifiy your tweet or search. For instance, #HIMSSFood and #HIMSSMustAvoid to inform others of a poor dining experience

Do you have any others? Please let me know and I’ll add them to the list!

Also, for more information on the 2015 HIMSS Conference, consider following @HITConfGuy.