Population Health

Deep Dive: While COVID-19 will remain a challenge in 2021, the vaccines raise hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

This week's top stories include Biden announcing health-related appointees and nominees, including appointing Jeffrey Zients as head of the White House's COVID-19 response team and Micky Tripathi as head of National Coordinator for Health IT.

Best Buy Health VP Sarah Jones makes predictions about telehealth, senior care and the regulatory space in 2021.

We are witnessing a race in the vaccine rollout. A race towards the light at the end of a tunnel and a race which will likely define the next few years, according to Dr Charles Alessi, chief clinical officer at HIMSS. 

Healthcare providers are still facing hurdles when it comes to connecting with patients, says Jim Rogers, president of HealthConnect Networks and Mission Broadband.

The right to health, not just the access to healthcare, requires a holistic understanding of how we can provide a better quality of life and wellbeing for the individual and society, argues Bogi Eliasen, director of health at the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies and a member of the HIMSS Future50 Community.

For many of us, 2021 feels a lot like 2020 with lockdowns imposed and hospital pressures increasing. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel with several vaccines now being rolled out globally, says Dr Saif Abed, founding partner, AbedGraham.

CMS progress on healthcare interoperability

The COVID-19 crisis has demanded innovative agility, relentlessly applied – proving again that information technology teams are crucial strategic partners for future goals.                  

From vaccines to virtual care, enterprise imaging to precision medicine, these are the growth areas that will shape the direction of healthcare, this year and beyond.