10 healthcare tech conferences you shouldn’t miss

Healthcare technology is growing rapidly, a fact you can’t miss whether you’re in tech or healthcare. Emerging trends in healthcare IT, telehealth, electronic health records (HER) and mHealth are just a few of the major topics that span both tech and healthcare. And, as with most industries, attending conferences is one of the best ways to stay in the know and maintain a strong network of professionals and experts in these fields. Here are 10 healthcare conferences you won’t want to miss, and a few might surprise you.

[ Health IT glossary ]

When you think of Forbes, you might think of coverage around the stock market or business trends, but the brand has extended its focus to technology and healthcare, among other topics. And on December 2nd and 3rd, you can attend the Forbes Healthcare Summit 2015 in New York City. Topics range from affordable healthcare, drug prices, entrepreneurship in healthcare and worldwide healthcare. Speakers include Leonard Schleifer from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Jonathan Bush from Athenahealth, Kenneth Frazier from Merck & Co and John H. Noseworthy from the Mayo Clinic, just to name a few. You can’t just register for the event, however, you need to sign up to request an invitation.

If you have a foot in the healthcare industry, then you know informatics is a huge deal right now. And it means health IT has become a focus for healthcare facilities across the country as electronic medical records and informatics become the standard. At the Medical Informatics World Conference, you’ll hear from industry leaders, technology vendors, senior-level executives, academic researchers and scientists on topics like big data, patient engagement and predictive analytics. The conference takes place in Boston at the Seaport World Trade Center from April 4 to 5. Registration fee is $1,499 until January 15, 2016 when the rate starts to go up as the event gets closer. If you wait until the last minute, registration costs $1,999 after February 19, 2016. Those working in academics, government, hospital & health systems and health plans can get a discounted rate starting at $749.

mHealth is the trendy phrase for mobile health, and it’s basically an umbrella term for any healthcare practices that are supported by or take place on mobile devices. As mobile device use grows, and more healthcare apps and gadgets find their way into the hands of consumers, there has been a push to regulate this aspect of healthcare. The conference takes place in Washington D.C. at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center and runs from November 8 to 11. The focus is on current and future technologies in mobile, telehealth and connected healthcare. Speakers include executives, industry leaders and innovators who have hands-on experience with the changing landscape of mobile healthcare. Registration varies depending on how you plan to attend, and if you plan to participate in certain events. Overall, fees are comparable to other conferences, you can get a discount depending on your situation. You can check out the fee break down on the mHealth Summit website.

From February 29 to March 4, 2015 you can attend the HiMSS 16 conference in Las Vegas, where you’ll learn about the latest products in health IT and get a chance to network with other health IT professionals. In addition to informative sessions, expert speakers and networking events, the HiMSS conference has a strong focus on education, with sessions aimed at helping you learn new tools and learn more about health IT practices and regulations. Educational sessions are selected using a peer review process and range in topics from patient engagement, business intelligence and population health, just to name a few. Early registration for the full conference starts at $765 for members and at $995 for non-members, and the longer you wait, the higher the fee gets. There are discounts for endorsers, government employees, and students as well as options to purchase tickets for single days, rather than the entire event.

Health 2.0 runs a number of conferences around the globe, so you aren’t tied down to one location or date if you want to attend. If you’re looking for a good reason to travel for work, check out the various locations and dates to find a conference nearby. Guests of honor include people like Chelsea Clinton, the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, CEO’s of major health and technology companies as well as startups, investors, hospitals and more. Every conference has a focus on health technology, developer competitions, emerging technology and innovation. Registration varies by location, so once you figure out which event you want to attend, you can register on the website.

CES is best-known as event where the latest gadgets are announced and showcased. However, there is a growing focus on digital health, healthcare technology and health IT. It’s a great place to make connections with healthcare professionals and tech professionals, as well as entrepreneurs looking to build healthcare startups. This year’s CES show takes place from January 6 to 9 in Las Vegas and the healthcare summit starts on Thursday, January 7 and goes until Friday, January 8. The upcoming show will have a focus on big data, super genes and practical applications of digital health. Registration fees increase overtime for CES, but if you are a “loyal alumni,” meaning you’ve attended the 2014 or 2015 show, you can register for free during a 30 day window, before the fee goes up to $100; after December 21, general admission fees go up to $300.

Another conference that probably makes you think of gadgets and music, SXSW has an entire section for healthcare IT. Like CES, as healthcare technology gains more traction, this portion of the conference is only expected to grow more. The SXSW Health and Medtech Expo started with last year’s event, and it’s coming back for 2016 on Saturday March 12 and March 13 at the JW Marriot in Austin, Texas. Registration fees for SXSW vary dramatically, mostly depending on how much access you want to the event. Check out the different levels of registration and how much each one will cost on the website.

In addition to an annual conference, TedMed also has a robust online community that you can connect with year round. It’s affiliated with the TED conference, which is well-known for its popular Ted Talks, and TedMed follows a similar format. The conference is packed with not only current health IT news, but also personal stories as well as a look forward at what will come in the next few years for healthcare. This year’s conference takes place in Palm Springs, Calif., at the La Quinta Resort and Club, from November 18 to 20. However, this conference does come with a hefty price tag with a $4,950 registration fee.

This year’s Connected Health Symposium, sponsored by Partner’s Healthcare, takes place in Boston at the Seaport World Trade Center, on October 29 and 30. The theme is “The Internet of Healthy Things: Integrating Connected Health into Real World Care Delivery,” so it’s guaranteed to be packed with all things health IT. The planned sessions focus on using technology and connected health to improve patient engagement, care and highlight instances of successful connected health in the industry. General attendance is $1,095 per person, but if you’re a Partner’s Health employee, work for a Health Care Affiliate or nonprofit, or if you are a government employee, the cost is $595; students are only charged $295.

From November 3 to 4 in Philadelphia you can attend the Next Edge Health Experience Summit where you’ll meet a number of people working in different areas of healthcare. Attendees include developers, manufacturers, IT pros, pharmaceutical companies and even hospital staff, all with the focus of looking to the future of streamlining healthcare. Sessions include personal experiences from patients, while others focus on hot topics like big data in healthcare and digital health. Registration for the two-day event costs $995 for an all access pass to the entire conference.