The 37-year old Jolie underwent a preventive double mastectomy after genetic testing revealed that she carries a rare mutation of the BRCA1 gene, associated with an 87% increase of breast cancer and 50% increase of ovarian cancer.

Jolie was healthy and cancer-free, but the medical data, combined with family medial history relevant to Jolie’s risk for breast and ovarian cancer, sealed her decision. Although Ms. Jolie’s decision and it’s aftereffects on cancer health education and perception of breast cancer risk has camps of both critics and supporters, her situation makes for a larger-than-life example of physicians engaging with a patient and using meaningful data to empower informed medical decision-making.

How can doctors of the not-so-rich-and famous make meaningful connections between data and the patient experience? The upcoming HIMSS-14 conference (February 23-27 in Orlando, FL) will explore this question (and many more) through more than 300 educational sessions across 23 topic areas.

“A focus of HIMSS-14 is on the people and processes that lead to achieving and maintaining effective use of health IT to truly transform health and health care,” said JoAnn Klinedinst, HIMSS Vice President of Professional development, in press announcement.

Innovation, impact, outcomes are central themes behind the offerings at the annual conference. Here’s a sampling of the educational sessions that will focus on patient engagement and strategies for making meaningful connections between data and the patient experience:

• Learn from real-world practitioner experiences connecting meaningful use measures and care coordination in regard to the physical health patients and the financial health of the medical practice.

• Find out how small clinics can address Stage 2 Meaningful Use requirements and overcome challenges in order to engage patients in managing their health.

• Learn about tools, methods and governance that supported successful management of meaningful use metrics in a network of over 360 physician practices.

• Discover the emerging trends in patient engagement and why it is important to patients, providers, and healthcare as a whole.

Dynamic Technology Showcase Highlights Meaningful Use, Patient Engagement

This year, HIMSS has significantly expanded the HIMSS Interoperability Showcase™ by merging it with the Meaningful Use Experience to emphasize how collaborative technology is vital to the realization of connected health data and patient empowerment across the U.S. healthcare landscape.

The all-new Interoperability Simulation Area features a simulated ICU, physician office and operating room. Dynamic tours will incorporate Meaningful Use Certified solutions with Health Information Exchanges powered by IHE profiles.

The Connected Patient Learning Gallery will feature hands-on tools designed to meet Meaningful Use Stage 2 and aid provider and patient engagement with technology resources such as patient portal management; social and behavioral wellness; healthcare banking and payments; and telemedicine solutions.

Known for bringing in the world’s most dynamic healthcare and technology thought leaders, the HIMSS-14 keynote speakers include AETNA CEO Mark Bertolini on Feb. 24; former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Feb. 26; CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner on Feb. 27; and blind adventurer and inspirational speaker Erik Weihenmayer on Feb. 27.

For clinicians unable to attend the conference in person, HIMSS14 Online provides access to select portions of the conference with live content and real-time interaction.

Karen M. Rider, M.A. is a freelance writer with special interests in wellness, health psychology, healthcare news and integrative medicine. Karen also writes marketing copy for health and wellness practitioners across a variety of specialties.