The PACSman Awards: HIMSS 2014 edition

2014 03 04 14 30 10 976 Costumes 400 20140304215732

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference is a completely different show than RSNA's annual confab in Chicago. RSNA is more serious, while HIMSS has an almost carnival atmosphere to it.

RSNA 2013 had maybe a dozen giveaways -- tops -- with each valued at less than $1; of the more than 1,200 booths at HIMSS 2014, maybe a dozen did not give something away, with gifts ranging from emblazoned pens to stuffed animals to Vespa scooters.

PACS consultant Michael J. Cannavo.PACS consultant Michael J. Cannavo.
PACS consultant Michael J. Cannavo.

For refreshment, RSNA 2013 had small wrapped candy, period, while HIMSS featured fresh cinnamon-roasted almonds and pecans, popcorn, scones, muffins, and so much more. HIMSS 2014 also exemplified Ogden Nash's saying: "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker," with beer and wine served in several exhibitor booths most afternoons.

While HIMSS 2014 was an exhausting show, allowing only 21 hours in three days to walk 500,000 sq ft, the festive approach made it a lot of fun. That said, HIMSS wasn't all a bed of roses. What was annoying? A few things stuck out:

  • Vendors who would literally stand in the hallway and pull you in to give you a presentation about a product you had no interest in at all. By the end of the second day, I had to play Roberto Duran and say, "No mĂ¡s." Enough already. Thankfully, they didn't have the corporate dance teams this year like they did a few years past, or I would have been in the Orange County jail on manslaughter charges.
  • Fifteen dollars per day to park my car, only to walk half a mile or more to get to where I was going. Gotta love the overflow parking lot that took cash only. I wonder how much of that money actually made it into the till.
  • Pens with no paper. Last time I checked, this was the electronic age, although in fairness there were a lot of pens that had the back ends you could use on a tablet as well.
  • Vendors who spent more time on cellphones than dealing with customers. Now, you can argue that most were checking their Twitter accounts -- and there were more than 60,000 tweets from HIMSS -- but come on people, let's be real. You know you weren't checking corporate emails but instead texting your wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend (or all of the above), while ignoring those walking into your booth seeking information on your product.
  • Requests for connections on LinkedIn the day after the show from at least four individuals whom I never met -- and all from one particular company.

Now that the negative is out of the way, here's a look at the lighter side of HIMSS 2014.

2014 03 04 14 30 09 797 Lying Down 400

"I swear boss I am not lying down on the job. It's research ..."

2014 03 04 14 50 28 860 Bicycle Smoothie 400 V2

I like a company that makes you work for your giveaway. Nothing beats a bicycle-powered smoothie maker.

2014 03 04 14 30 09 686 Klas 400

Will anyone who has not won a KLAS award please raise their hand?

2014 03 04 14 30 10 976 Costumes 400

"Hello, HR? I'd like to file a complaint about being made to wear these silly costumes."

Actually, the costumes were for a good cause, helping to recruit people to pack lunches for Second Harvest Food Bank. More than 250 HIMSS participants packed lunches for more than 4,000 needy families in the area, so thanks to the ladies for being such good sports about it.

2014 03 04 14 30 08 804 No Shows 450

There were about a dozen no-shows, but I thought the Maryland-based National Death Index being a no-show was completely appropriate ... rest in peace.

2014 03 04 14 30 11 272 Badge 450

I loved how my badge hung right above my belly so they could scan my name. I was waiting for it to beep and say, "You are 42 pounds overweight." The Captain Obvious scanner company wins again.

2014 03 04 15 05 20 189 Many Badges 400 V2

I didn't get this fine gentleman's name, but I haven't seen Russian generals with quite as many badges. I was impressed.

2014 03 04 14 30 07 461 Wall 400

It may just be "another brick in the wall," as Pink Floyd sang, but if you were stuck behind one of these Berlin walls, it was a kiss of death in terms of sight lines. Three companies had them; they should be banned.

2014 03 04 14 50 26 789 Smac 400 V2

I love companies who aren't afraid to talk SMAC.

2014 03 04 14 30 06 465 Wins Losses Epic 400

Being No. 1 is one thing, but sticking out your tongue and saying "nanny nanny boo boo" to your competitors is beyond juvenile. As I posted on HIStalk, all they needed were the lyrics to the Christian hymn "How Great Thou Art" on a storyboard, with an audio loop of Queen's "We Are the Champions" playing in the background. Their whole booth was pompous and arrogant. Marketing team, are you listening?

2014 03 04 14 30 10 536 Fish Cell Phone 400

"Um ... I think I found your cellphone, dude."

2014 03 04 14 30 11 802 Amen Meaningfully 450

Amen and alleluia!

2014 03 04 14 30 09 129 Humor User 400
2014 03 04 14 30 09 376 Humor Explain 400

Best bumper stickers and buttons of the show belonged to this company. The ones that aren't shown include "I'm here because you broke something," "No, I won't fix your computer," "Users -- also known as job security," and others. Love their sense of humor as I did these guys, who also explained their correlation of passwords to underwear: Don't leave them in the open, change them regularly, and don't loan them to strangers.

2014 03 04 14 30 07 458 Underwear 400
2014 03 04 14 30 07 61 Phaser 450

Another awesome giveaway: "What do you mean my workstation is down? Set phasers to stun."

2014 03 04 14 30 11 223 Body Suit Dance 450

Tell me again how much I'm paid to do this?

2014 03 04 14 30 08 145 Pacman Party 400

"Yeah, baby!" Now these guys know how to throw a party.

2014 03 04 14 50 27 919 Exodus Happy Heads 400 V2

Exodus 9:1 -- "Let my people go!"

2014 03 04 14 30 08 197 Orlando Sign 400

Note to RSNA: Orlando has it all!

Michael J. Cannavo is known industry-wide as the PACSman. After several decades as an independent PACS consultant, he spent two years working as a strategic accounts manager with a major PACS vendor. He has now made it back safely from the dark side and is sharing his observations in this Straight Talk From the PACSman series.

His healthcare consulting services for end users include PACS optimization services, system upgrade and proposal reviews, service contract reviews, and other areas. The PACSman is also working with imaging and IT vendors developing both global and trade show-specific marketing programs using market-focused messaging. He can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 407-359-0191.

The comments and observations expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of AuntMinnie.com.

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