Looking into the Crystal Ball

Fellow blogger Vince Ciotti’s post really got me laughing—and thinking. His tongue-in-cheek predictions each contain a grain of truth for sure


Fellow blogger Vince Ciotti’s post really got me laughing—and thinking. His tongue-in-cheek predictions each contain a grain of truth for sure. So in that spirit, I’d like to add a handful of my own “predictions.” Mine are more of the Jeanne Dixon variety, namely events that recent history suggests are all but guaranteed to happen again.

1. Data Security Breach: A large hospital will announce that a number of patient records have been compromised. A portable device figures.

2. Vendor Surveys: An IT software vendor will release a “scientific survey” that reveals deep industry concern over a topic that just happens to coincide with the vendor’s product line. Look for surveys about IT workplace shortages, data breach avoidance, and physician group practice EHR adoption.

3. Industry Consortium: A new industry coalition will be formed that tackles one of the following issues: consumer empowerment, health care quality, cost reduction, or patient safety.

4. Merger: At least one software company that some people have heard of will acquire another software company that no one has ever heard of.

5. New Credential: A new credential will appear that certifies expertise in one of the following areas--information management, specialty billing, or proper response to a payer audit. The credential will have at least four letters, including R, C, or H, but not Z.
 
6. Industry Enthusiasm: An IT software vendor will proclaim “genuine excitement” over a new product launch or a new hire.

7. Data Standards: An industry think tank will decry the lack thereof.

8. Information Age: At least one server will crash due to a new virus, a glut of undeleted e-mails, or both.

9. Record Spending: An analyst will forecast unprecedented levels of health IT spending in 2012, citing such market vectors as data security, 5010, group practice adoption, consumer empowerment, quality, cost reduction, or patient safety.

10. Chicago Cubs: Will not participate in the World Series this year.