How to Get the Most out of HIMSS Virtual Conference & Expo

I’ve had our upcoming HIMSS Virtual Conference & Expo on the brain all week and want to share some insights that you’ll find useful as you join thousands of others online November 3-4.

Did You Know?

1)      Registered attendees who miss a live education session can still view them on-demand for 90 days after the live event. 

• I give this feature two thumbs up for providing such flexibility. It ensures that you can get the most out of the conference–and still attend to the day-to-day at your workplace.
• The conference was shaped from 90 proposals resulting in these 22 education courses where you can earn continuing education credits. Given that the conference is free to qualified attendees, I’d say you’re getting a lot of bang for your ($0) buck. 

2)      Networking at the conference is huge. An easy way to do this is on social media channels.

• If you’re on Twitter, start using and following the #HIMSSvirtual hashtag. Upload a headshot photo and fill out your user profile—including a field to add your Twitter username to import tweets directly into the virtual environment and update your status. Pretty cool, eh? We encourage you to tweet during sessions, share your opinions, quote presenters and chat with other attendees.
• HIMSS Facebook page will be buzzing with updates, too. Feel free to share your experience with others and get conversations going on our wall surrounding hot topics.
• HIMSS Group on LinkedIn is a great place to check out who will be attending (you can RSVP) and continue networking long after the conference is over.

3)      You accrue Prize Points for participating in different activities.

• Examples: Attend Day One? 50 points. Visit a booth for the first time? 10 Points.  Initiate a chat with an exhibitor? 75 Points.
• The whole process is completely automatic, so you don’t need to worry about anything. Just get active and involved and you’ll start racking them up. The more you earn, the better your chances of winning an iPad. And let’s be honest, who couldn’t use a free iPad?

 Attendee Tips:

1)      Determine your objectives before logging in on Day One. It’s a simple task, but one that very few people do: make a list of what you want to get out of the conference—whether it’s educational, expo-related or otherwise. Use this to then map out your activities and you’ll get a lot more out of the experience.

2)      Set a reminder on your Outlook or other calendaring system for specific sessions or activities that are a priority.

3)      Engage in group chats. This is something that will really drive home your virtual experience, and unlike education sessions that can be played back on-demand, chats are something you have to take advantage of live!

Have you attended in the past? If so, please chime in with your any tips for attendees or insights into how you got the most out of the conference.