Welcome to Hospital Medicine 2017 (HM17), the largest meeting ever held specifically for hospital medicine. The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) is proud that HM17 brings together a broad range of stakeholders in hospital medicine, including physicians of many specialties, acute-care providers, administrators, pharmacists, C-suite executives, recruiters, and educators. Your decision to join your colleagues at HM17 demonstrates your commitment to not only the specialty of hospital medicine but also to the patients you serve.
This year’s renowned speakers will present important sessions addressing the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. To open the main meeting on Tuesday, Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, former acting assistant secretary for health for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, will present her featured address, “Rethinking Health: The Vital Role of Hospitals and the Hospitalist.” On Wednesday, Patrick Conway, MD, MSc, MHM, an SHM member, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services deputy administrator for innovation and quality, and director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, will speak about “Health Care System Transformation.”
On Thursday, HM17 concludes with the closing keynote, “Planning for the Future in a World of Constant Change: What Should Hospitalists Do?” presented by Bob Wachter, MD, MHM, chief of the internal medicine department at the University of California, San Francisco, and author of “Hospital Medicine” and “The Digital Doctor.”
Please make sure to download the HM17 at Hand meeting app, a wonderful resource for every HM17 attendee that puts the meeting at your fingertips. Create an individualized conference experience from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet one on one with members of SHM’s Board of Directors, who will be available in the exhibit hall in the SHM booth during scheduled visit times. Please consult the Meet the Board schedule in the HM17 at Hand app for further information.
On behalf of the SHM Board of Directors and staff, welcome to HM17 and to Las Vegas. Through this meeting’s rich selection of educational opportunities, research offerings, and networking events, SHM continues its mission to promote excellence in the practice of hospital medicine. SHM remains at the forefront of health care today, continuing to transform medical care and revolutionize patient care.
Dr. Wellikson is CEO of SHM.