Conferences are always a great way to meet new people and showcase our software to practices that are searching for charge capture or secure messaging software solutions. It’s just as exciting to run into the doctors and practices who already use pMD and check in with them about using our software, how their practice is doing, and what they’ve been learning at the conference. It definitely put a smile on my face to be greeted with a “We love you guys!” by several of our current users across the country, from San Diego, CA to Birmingham, AL.
The theme of this year’s ACC conference was achieving and maintaining success in a time of continuous change in the health care industry. We had a very busy 2015 at pMD working on new features to help practices with the transition to ICD-10, reporting for PQRS, and staying compliant with HIPAA laws. It was really interesting to hear how the conference sessions addressed these topics and more, in addition to the attendees’ responses to the sessions. One doctor we spoke with told us that he hadn’t taken this many notes since medical school – in 1986! We also got the chance to meet a third-year cardiology fellow, who is entering a medical world very different from that of the doctor who graduated medical school 20 years ago. He was absorbing information like a sponge and was talking about value-based modifier payments over breakfast on day two. The conference covered how practices can be financially successful in an industry moving toward quality-based payments and alternative payment models. One workshop in particular discussed the exit of SGR and the emergence of MIPS.
Overall, the conference was a great success. Although no one I spoke with won big money at the blackjack table, everyone did say they learned a lot, met some interesting new people, and got the chance to catch up with old friends and colleagues. I hope some attendees stayed the weekend in Vegas for a few more days of fun. As for me, I jumped back on a plane, headed to our next big project. Next stop, Cincinnati, OH!