Expanding Education

One year ago, the ITN team was literally packing our bags and preparing to get on a plane heading toward the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference in Orlando. COVID-19 had recently become a global topic of growing concern. But we held our breath. A few days later, a public health emergency was declared in the state of Florida, but it still seemed possible to hold a conference, taking preventive measures, including the “HIMSS fist bump” greeting that was replacing the handshake. However, things continued to get worse, and following reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HIMSS made the difficult, but necessary, decision to cancel the conference. It would be the show’s first cancellation in 58 years.

Little did we realize at the time that this was just the first of a long string of conferences to be canceled due to the pandemic, and signaled the beginning of what became a very challenging year for everyone around the globe. It’s been a trying year, with limited face-to-face interaction with peers aside from the occasional Zoom or Google Meet call. The future is still uncertain for in-person engagement, but to keep the education flowing, ITN has developed a number of creative solutions for our audience that push the learning curve and keep education front-and-center.

Editorial Roundtable

Key opinion leaders and powerful topics — ITN’s Editorial Roundtable Series features both. You can participate in a Roundtable for a meaningful discussion with KOLs on a current trend or pressing issue. ITN’s interactive Editorial Roundtable discussions feature insightful conversations with industry experts, and offer peer-to-peer solutions to common challenges you are facing today. Most recently featured was the first in the editorial series, “COVID-19: Economic Impact on Radiology and What to Expect in 2021.” You can view this discussion on-demand at bit.ly/2MzW3Ew.

Lunch and Learn

Virtual regional Lunch and Learns for select audiences feature an education session with a panel of experts, moderated by an ITN editor, and include a special lunch option. These interactive sessions are better than a passive webinar, allowing you to ask questions and engage in an interactive conversation with thought leaders. Watch your emails for Lunch and Learn experiences coming to your area!

Podcasts

There is power in the spoken word. You can listen to KOLs tell their story through ITN’s Podcast Series to continue the virtual learning experience. Podcasts feature insightful conversations with industry experts. ITN’s first Podcast in a series will kick off late-March, so be sure to visit itnonline.com often so you don’t miss updates and announcements regarding everything being offered.

2021

Meanwhile, we are starting to see light at the end of this very long tunnel. We still have many months ahead of us. Hopefully face-to-face interaction will make its way back, safely, soon.