This year’s HLTH 2024 conference delivered on its promise to push the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare. It was a chance to connect with peers, challenge the status quo, and dig into the trends that will reshape our industry. From the innovative — but so needed — concept of socially prescribed care to the potential ripple effects of the upcoming election, HLTH 2024 was a window into a rapidly changing landscape.
Here’s what stood out to me.
We’re living longer! That’s the good news. But as we age, we experience more chronic conditions and functional capabilities often decline.
How can we help patients and their families live best during this period of their lives? This session, featuring diverse panelists, was a breath of fresh air, focusing on the concept of socially prescribed care. It’s about recognizing that health isn’t just a list of diagnoses — it's also about what happens outside the exam room. Social prescriptions, such as access to community activities, peer support, and wellness initiatives, are showing real promise in reducing hospital admissions and improving mental health.
The panel emphasized that socially prescribed care isn’t just for the young or digitally savvy. Blue zones, a much-studied phenomenon, show us what’s possible with environments that include beneficial lifestyle, diet, and community. Older adults, often the hardest to reach through traditional channels, have benefited from programs that focus on social factors. It’s a model that’s about shifting from episodic care to ongoing support —exactly the kind of change our industry needs to consider.
Here’s a book written by a member of the panel which aligns with this session. I just ordered it from Amazon and can’t wait to read it: The Aging Revolution.
As a presidential election year looms, the healthcare community is abuzz with what this means for our future. The conversations at HLTH 2024 underscored the significance of potential shifts in policy — whether around telehealth, Medicare expansions, drug pricing, or privacy laws. The decisions made in the next year will ripple through our industry, affecting everything from technology adoption to how we define and reimburse quality care.
Our work at Healthmonix has always been about maximizing the opportunities available within the current regulatory landscape, so it's more important than ever to stay adaptable. Whatever changes lie ahead, our focus is still on turning challenges into opportunities for providers to succeed in value-based care.
We can’t have a healthcare conference without talking about Electronic Health Records (EHRs). This year, the discussion felt different as we heard about AI working with the EHR to integrate more information. AI and machine learning are trying to simplify data entry, and there's a focus on improving usability. Most EHRs still struggle to provide advanced functionalities, and while more data is needed from users, we’re awaiting the full potential.
We still struggle with interoperability, and while thousands at this conference are developing the "next big thing", there’s a fundamental infrastructure needed to maximize the value of all these tools. We don’t need tools that further burden the healthcare system with more systems that fragment their time. What we really need is current technology to align and serve users, not the other way around. I heard providers repeatedly say they’re in medicine to serve patients, not their systems.
We’re excited that EHRs are beginning to include social determinants of health in their systems, as they’re a key puzzle piece in caring for patients. This isn’t just about data — it’s about meaningfully integrating all aspects of a patient’s life to deliver better care. We need to move toward EHRs that help rather than hinder, and I’m excited to see Healthmonix’s solutions play a part in that evolution.
I was able to see one of my Peloton instructors in person!
One theme that might have surprised some attendees was the focus on physical wellness. There was an undercurrent at HLTH 2024 about how hitting the gym and staying active isn’t just a personal choice — it's a healthcare strategy. Wearable tech is moving from trend to standard practice, enabling real-time health monitoring. And the research is clear: preventive care works. Integrating it into everyday life has far-reaching implications.
This is a space where we can engage patients more deeply and align with employers who are driving wellness initiatives. It’s a reminder that healthcare isn’t only about treating illness; it’s about encouraging well-being, preventing disease, and managing conditions more effectively.
From my perspective, HLTH 2024 was a call to action — a reminder that the future of healthcare is about more than just incremental improvements. It’s about reimagining the system, making it more holistic, inclusive, and personalized. We're talking about breaking down the barriers between clinical care and the real-world factors that influence health. We’re discussing the role of technology not as a barrier, but as a bridge to better care.
At Healthmonix, we’re ready to take these ideas and turn them into actionable strategies for our partners. Whether the conversation is about evolving EHRs, responding to new regulations, or integrating lifestyle medicine into care, our mission is the same: helping providers thrive in a healthcare landscape that demands adaptability, innovation, and a focus on quality above all.
HLTH 2024 was more than a conference — it was a place to meet and listen to passionate participants share their vision and challenges. It was a glimpse into a future that we strive for, where healthcare truly serves people.