6 ms·

HIMSS 2020, a conference of ~45000 attendees from 90+ countries is still scheduled to go forward at Orlando Convention Center March 9-13. I was actually blocke

by jtdev 7y ago

HIMSS 2020, a conference of ~45000 attendees from 90+ countries is still scheduled to go forward at Orlando Convention Center March 9-13. I was actually blocked by HIMSS PR folks on Twitter for inquiring about their preparedness plan... which is inadequate to say the least. To top it off, HHS Secretary Alex Azar is a keynote speaker, so now cancelling or major attendees/sponsors pulling out is also a political issue. This could actually be a catalyst for major transmission. It’s ridiculous.

deleted 7y ago
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deleted 7y ago
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toomuchtodo 7y ago
Consider emailing the City of Orlando about this. Their response will be public record in accordance with Florida open records law. They know this, and will act accordingly. Whatever their position, it’ll be in writing. https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Contact-Us https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Contact-Us
FriendlyNormie 7y ago
HIMSS has no obligation to let someone’s infowars-tier paranoid rants pollute their replies.
AndrewKemendo 7y ago
I had to look it up: Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Irony meter would break off if an outbreak happened there.
- jcims 7y ago
  Probably not a particularly substantive comment but in my experience hubris abounds in healthcare. Even if this did happen in would be explained away as the shortcomings of a few rather than any systemic cultural issue.
  - evancox100 7y ago
    Of course, the field is full of doctors with God complexes
    - killjoywashere 7y ago
      No, it's the healthcare IT people. Imagine people with the combined hubris of physicians and SV SWEs, and the skills of neither. It has to be the most Dunning-Kruger conference on Earth.
      - jcims 7y ago
        I worked in hospital IT for a little while and I wouldn't say this is the rule, but man you really nailed the exception hahaha.
ghaff 7y ago
There are plenty of events still going in.
- nvahalik 7y ago
  Right. Lots of events may not have an "international" set of attendees, though.
  - ghaff 7y ago
    Many do. With protocols around not having travelled to infected regions.
    - jtdev 7y ago
      Really, care to share any examples? Is California on the no-fly list? The HIMSS protocol is basically PR B.S. with a bunch of half measures like: - “Attendees should not travel to HIMSS20 if they are feeling unwell.” - “HIMSS is providing guidelines and updates to conference attendee hotels on healthy procedures and tips.” - “HIMSS20 will be a handshake-free meeting. We recommend the HIMSS elbow tap.” - “There will be an increased number of hand sanitation sites available“ https://www.himssconference.org/updates/himss-update-coronavirus https://www.himssconference.org/updates/himss-update-coronav...
      - tempay 7y ago
        > - “HIMSS20 will be a handshake-free meeting. We recommend the HIMSS elbow tap.” Ironically the advice I keep seeing is to sneeze into your elbow to minimise contaminating things with your hands...
        scarmig 7y ago
        Badges should indicate whether you're an elbow sneezer or a hand sneezer, so that mutually compatible people can elbow tap or hand shake as appropriate.
jacquesm 7y ago
Instead of handing out Oscars maybe they could hand out Darwin awards for attendants?
- cryptoquick 7y ago
  Awful take. I usually appreciate dark humor, but, this is way off the mark.
  - jacquesm 7y ago
    It wasn't meant in a humoristic way at all but as a reminder to those that plan to attend that they are gambling with their lives. My sense of humor has taken an unscheduled leave of absence without any kind of indication when it will return. If ever.
    - Reelin 7y ago
      > they are gambling with their lives Please don't spread this sort of misinformation. At this point, widespread transmission in the US is expected. You _will_ be exposed and most likely infected at some point. Most cases are mild! The concern is logistical in nature - if the health system is overwhelmed, those with severe symptoms won't be able to get the care they need. It's important to slow the spread as much as possible.
      - jacquesm 7y ago
        It's not misinformation, you can run the numbers yourself. Some governments have already banned any events with > 1000 people. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/swiss-government-bans-all-events-over-1000-people-2020-02-28 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/swiss-government-bans-all-... I figure they've run the numbers too.
        Reelin 7y ago
        > banned any events with > 1000 people Yes, in a desperate attempt to slow the spread so that health systems aren't overrun. The difference in outcomes for those with severe symptoms (of any sort, from any illness) is vastly different based on the availability and quality of medical care.
Ice_cream_suit 7y ago
Email Orlando City Council at troubleshooter@orlando.gov about the potential danger.
boulos 7y ago
Clearly HIMSS attendees should be prepared with proper contagion defenses, like excellent hand washing and masks for airborne pathogens :).
- ngcc_hk 7y ago
  It is not preparedness. If you have active virus it stays on, get one of the staff as in the cruise and if he or she has no symptoms... it is not individual preparedness. It helps but not that much.
cjensen 7y ago
Las Vegas is hosting it's third largest annual convention (130,000) on March 10 [1], though that has few international attendees. The fourth largest (100,000) in late April is notably international [2]. Worth noting that unlike GDC, both of these conventions feature equipment that is too expensive to demo at a customer site. Disruption of either of these two conventions will come at a cost. [1] https://www.conexpoconagg.com https://www.conexpoconagg.com [2] https://nabshow.com/2020/ https://nabshow.com/2020/
- cameronbrown 7y ago
  > Disruption of either of these two conventions will come at a cost. Who cares? People's lives are at stake, and a convention like this can be a hotbed of transmission.
  - Reelin 7y ago
    > People's lives are at stake Just to proactively avoid any misunderstanding here, I'd like to point out that the virus is expected to spread in the US at this point. It's not a matter of _if_ you will be exposed, but rather _when_. From a logistical perspective, it's important that cases are spread out over time as much as possible in order to avoid the health system being overwhelmed.
  - ineedasername 7y ago
    I don't think the poster intended that to mean the conferences should go ahead in the face of specific risks just because of the money involved. It was a simple statement regarding the economic impact of the virus.
  - cjensen 7y ago
    I didn't say or imply the cost wasn't worth paying, just noting it because it is an example of the economic impacts that can be anticipated.
supernovae 7y ago
SXSW is still going on... it has a rather international footprint too. I hope all is well!
_pmf_ 7y ago
> This could actually be a catalyst for major transmission. It’s ridiculous. Have you ever used public transport?
andybak 7y ago
I just asked them on Twitter if they are indeed blocking people for asking about COVID. I wonder how many people they are prepared to block for asking a polite question.

by jtdev 7y ago

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

toomuchtodo 7y ago

Consider emailing the City of Orlando about this. Their response will be public record in accordance with Florida open records law. They know this, and will act accordingly. Whatever their position, it’ll be in writing. https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Contact-Us https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Contact-Us

FriendlyNormie 7y ago

HIMSS has no obligation to let someone’s infowars-tier paranoid rants pollute their replies.

AndrewKemendo 7y ago

I had to look it up: Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Irony meter would break off if an outbreak happened there.

jcims 7y ago
Probably not a particularly substantive comment but in my experience hubris abounds in healthcare. Even if this did happen in would be explained away as the shortcomings of a few rather than any systemic cultural issue.
- evancox100 7y ago
  Of course, the field is full of doctors with God complexes
  - killjoywashere 7y ago
    No, it's the healthcare IT people. Imagine people with the combined hubris of physicians and SV SWEs, and the skills of neither. It has to be the most Dunning-Kruger conference on Earth.
    - jcims 7y ago
      I worked in hospital IT for a little while and I wouldn't say this is the rule, but man you really nailed the exception hahaha.

ghaff 7y ago

There are plenty of events still going in.

nvahalik 7y ago
Right. Lots of events may not have an "international" set of attendees, though.
- ghaff 7y ago
  Many do. With protocols around not having travelled to infected regions.
  - jtdev 7y ago
    Really, care to share any examples? Is California on the no-fly list? The HIMSS protocol is basically PR B.S. with a bunch of half measures like: - “Attendees should not travel to HIMSS20 if they are feeling unwell.” - “HIMSS is providing guidelines and updates to conference attendee hotels on healthy procedures and tips.” - “HIMSS20 will be a handshake-free meeting. We recommend the HIMSS elbow tap.” - “There will be an increased number of hand sanitation sites available“ https://www.himssconference.org/updates/himss-update-coronavirus https://www.himssconference.org/updates/himss-update-coronav...
    - tempay 7y ago
      > - “HIMSS20 will be a handshake-free meeting. We recommend the HIMSS elbow tap.” Ironically the advice I keep seeing is to sneeze into your elbow to minimise contaminating things with your hands...
      - scarmig 7y ago
        Badges should indicate whether you're an elbow sneezer or a hand sneezer, so that mutually compatible people can elbow tap or hand shake as appropriate.

jacquesm 7y ago

Instead of handing out Oscars maybe they could hand out Darwin awards for attendants?

cryptoquick 7y ago
Awful take. I usually appreciate dark humor, but, this is way off the mark.
- jacquesm 7y ago
  It wasn't meant in a humoristic way at all but as a reminder to those that plan to attend that they are gambling with their lives. My sense of humor has taken an unscheduled leave of absence without any kind of indication when it will return. If ever.
  - Reelin 7y ago
    > they are gambling with their lives Please don't spread this sort of misinformation. At this point, widespread transmission in the US is expected. You _will_ be exposed and most likely infected at some point. Most cases are mild! The concern is logistical in nature - if the health system is overwhelmed, those with severe symptoms won't be able to get the care they need. It's important to slow the spread as much as possible.
    - jacquesm 7y ago
      It's not misinformation, you can run the numbers yourself. Some governments have already banned any events with > 1000 people. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/swiss-government-bans-all-events-over-1000-people-2020-02-28 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/swiss-government-bans-all-... I figure they've run the numbers too.
      - Reelin 7y ago
        > banned any events with > 1000 people Yes, in a desperate attempt to slow the spread so that health systems aren't overrun. The difference in outcomes for those with severe symptoms (of any sort, from any illness) is vastly different based on the availability and quality of medical care.

Ice_cream_suit 7y ago

Email Orlando City Council at troubleshooter@orlando.gov about the potential danger.

boulos 7y ago

Clearly HIMSS attendees should be prepared with proper contagion defenses, like excellent hand washing and masks for airborne pathogens :).

ngcc_hk 7y ago
It is not preparedness. If you have active virus it stays on, get one of the staff as in the cruise and if he or she has no symptoms... it is not individual preparedness. It helps but not that much.

cjensen 7y ago

Las Vegas is hosting it's third largest annual convention (130,000) on March 10 [1], though that has few international attendees. The fourth largest (100,000) in late April is notably international [2]. Worth noting that unlike GDC, both of these conventions feature equipment that is too expensive to demo at a customer site. Disruption of either of these two conventions will come at a cost. [1] https://www.conexpoconagg.com https://www.conexpoconagg.com [2] https://nabshow.com/2020/ https://nabshow.com/2020/

cameronbrown 7y ago
> Disruption of either of these two conventions will come at a cost. Who cares? People's lives are at stake, and a convention like this can be a hotbed of transmission.
- Reelin 7y ago
  > People's lives are at stake Just to proactively avoid any misunderstanding here, I'd like to point out that the virus is expected to spread in the US at this point. It's not a matter of _if_ you will be exposed, but rather _when_. From a logistical perspective, it's important that cases are spread out over time as much as possible in order to avoid the health system being overwhelmed.
- ineedasername 7y ago
  I don't think the poster intended that to mean the conferences should go ahead in the face of specific risks just because of the money involved. It was a simple statement regarding the economic impact of the virus.
- cjensen 7y ago
  I didn't say or imply the cost wasn't worth paying, just noting it because it is an example of the economic impacts that can be anticipated.

supernovae 7y ago

SXSW is still going on... it has a rather international footprint too. I hope all is well!

_pmf_ 7y ago

> This could actually be a catalyst for major transmission. It’s ridiculous. Have you ever used public transport?

andybak 7y ago

I just asked them on Twitter if they are indeed blocking people for asking about COVID. I wonder how many people they are prepared to block for asking a polite question.