The AHIMA/IFHIMA Global Virtual Policy Summit

About The Summit

AHIMA and IFHIMA are convening a global virtual summit of health information professionals from different nations across the globe to collaborate on key public policy issues related to the health information (HI) profession. The global virtual summit will hold focused conversations discussing key public policy issues impacting the health information profession today, including health AI and the HI workforce. Such dialogues are critical to furthering better global policy and to ensuring global alignment in the HI profession.

The AHIMA/IFHIMA Global Virtual Policy Summit Agenda

Hour 1 (Eastern Standard Time)

7:00 – 7:05 Welcome and Opening Remarks

Representatives from AHIMA and IFHIMA leadership welcome attendees to the event and position the conversations in context of how the collaboration aims to further the HI profession and improve the global health system as a whole.

• Vicki Bennett, President, IFHIMA
• Lauren Riplinger, Chief Public Policy & Impact Officer, AHIMA

7:06 – 7:30 How the Global Digital Health Partnership is Advancing Nation-to-Nation Collaboration

The Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) is a collaboration of nations and non-government entities working to advance digital health globally. The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport currently serves as the Secretariat for the GDHP and we are joined by a member of their team to provide an overview of the GDHP’s purpose and focus.

• Jenna Wildeman, Policy Officer International Digital Health, GDHP Chair Office and Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport, the Netherlands
• Moderator: Andrew Tomlinson, Senior Director of Regulatory & International Affairs, AHIMA

7:31 – 7:59 Panel on Health AI and New Technologies

This panel will dive into the details of how health AI and new technologies directly impact the HI profession. Perspectives from the European Union, Australia, and US will be featured with a focus on how nascent public policy activities in those countries have charted a course for health AI adoption and use.

• Guillermo Paluzie, Head of Healthcare Documentation, Selvas Health Corporation, Spain
• Sallyanne Wissmann, Chief Executive Officer, Health Information Management Association of Australia
• Deborah Adair, Executive Director of Digital Health Enterprise HIM, Massachusetts General Brigham, Advocacy and Policy Council Chair, AHIMA
• Moderator: Tara O’Donnell, Regulatory Associate, AHIMA

10 Minute Break

Hour 2 (Eastern Standard Time)

8:10 – 8:20 Overview of AHIMA Workforce/AI White Paper + IFHIMA AI Survey

AHIMA and IFHIMA will provide overviews of their research as it relates to HI workforce health AI use within the US and aboard. The data provided in these surveys will set the stage for the conversation in hour two discussing the intersection of technology and workforce needs.

• Kate McFadyen, Senior Director, Government Affairs, AHIMA
• Susan Fenton, Vice Dean, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics

8:21 – 8:40 Discussion on Digital Health, Health AI, and Workforce in Low- and Middle-Income Nations

A moderated discussion featuring multinational health organizations on the challenges and opportunities within low- and middle-income nations as it relates to digital health with a focus on health AI and workforce. The conversation provides an opportunity to learn about the unique public policy needs for these nations and, in some cases, how these nations are further ahead in digital health than their more developed peers.

• Amarynth Sichel, Senior Digital Health Advisor, USAID
• Alain Bernard Labrique, Director, Department of Digital Health & Innovation, World Health Organization (WHO)
• Marcelo D’Agostino, Unit Chief – Information Systems and Digital Health, Pan American Health Organization
• Moderator: Vicki Bennett, President, IFHIMA

8:41 – 8:55 Conversation on Global HI Workforce and Emerging Digital Health

The final panel of the day will discuss the intersection of HI workforce policy and needs with emerging digital health trends. The conversation will serve as a convergence discussion touching on themes presented throughout the summit and will feature a discussion on how HI can be well positioned to thrive through technology advancement.

• Betsy Nejat, Senior Director, Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA)
• K M Sabu, Professor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, President, Indian Health Information Management and Health Informatics Association (IHIIMA)
• Deneice Marshall, President-Elect, IFHIMA, Health Information Management Coordinator/Instructor, Barbados Community College
• Moderator: Tara O’Donnell, Regulatory Associate, AHIMA

8:56 – 9:00 Closing and Next Steps

• Andrew Tomlinson, Senior Director, Regulatory & International Affairs, AHIMA