Q&A with CHIME Board Chair Dan Nigrin, MD: How ViVE Will Help Leaders “Cut to the Chase”

Launching a new event is never easy, particularly in healthcare, where the demands on leaders’ time and resources have never been greater. And so, when ViVE drew impressive numbers in its debut, which took place just as live conference were starting to return, the industry took notice. Attendance numbers surpassed expectations, and words like “energetic,” and “buzzing” were tossed around with great frequency.

The real test, however, will come when ViVE2023 kicks off. Because while much of the feedback was positive, there was definitely room for improvement, according to Dan Nigrin, MD, CIO at MaineHealth and CHIME Board Chair. For CHIME and HLTH, addressing the suggestions they’ve received through multiple channels has been a key priority, and has resulted in tweaks that will deliver a better experience, he said.

During an interview with Kate Gamble, Managing Editor and Director of Social Media at healthsytemCIO, Nigrin opened up about the ultimate goal of ViVE, what it was like to be part of an inaugural event, what he happens to unfold in Nashville, and how being part of CHIME has shaped him as a leader.

On ViVE’s inception

One of the reasons that we decided to partner with HLTH on this new conference is because there was a need for something new. [At past industry events], a lot of the startups and other innovating companies weren’t getting the focus they needed or deserved; they were being eclipsed by big booths. That’s one thing I really like about HLTH — the focus was on leading-edge technology. That’s where our field is headed.

On partnering with HLTH

The partnership with HLTH to create ViVE was incredibly important for us because while Epic, Cerner and Meditech play a critical role for us, there are other companies and products that are important. They’re going to become major components of our tool chest. And so, having them right there on the show floor, shoulder to shoulder with the existing players — that’s key for me and for CHIME. That’s one of the reasons it was so successful last year and why it’s been building for this year.

On ViVE’s “speed-dating” feature

The speed-dating component was incredible for me [last year]. It was exactly what I wanted to get out of a conference like ViVE. I don’t need the dog-and-pony show; I want to know what company X, Y, or Z is doing. Maybe I’ve heard of them, or someone mentioned that they had a cool product, but I don’t want to sit through an hour-long presentation with a bunch of slides. I just want the basics. And that was exactly what I got out of it. It’s a 15-minute, super concise elevator speech. Cut to the chase and tell me what you’ve got. It’s a better use of everyone’s time. We heard a lot of similar feedback — it wasn’t just who felt that way. Some of the CHIME Foundation firms are going to continue to utilize focus groups to interact with leaders, but many are choosing the Hosted Buyer program.

On integrating feedback

We learned a lot in that first year. Although it went very well overall, it was not perfect. From the CIO’s perspective, there was way too much happening. We had almost no downtime; in fact, we couldn’t attend a lot of the ViVE sessions because there were CHIME sessions happening at the same time. This year, the content is much more in sync. For example, the CHIME Focus Groups are being held in the morning before the presentations start, and the Hosted Buyer sessions are scheduled during pockets of time when there aren’t major conflicts. And so, it’ll be a little bit more of a relaxed experience for CHIME members.

The other bit of feedback we received is that people had to run from one end of the conference to the other just to get to various sessions. This year, all of the content is happening on the ViVE show floor. You won’t have to scamper all around a big conference center to find the right room, because it’s all going to be in the same area. We’re looking forward to that as well.

On serving a broader audience

The other thing I like about HLTH is that they don’t limit themselves to particular audiences. There are going to be more payers and government agencies present, which provides a broader perspective of the whole ecosystem. I think that makes it more interesting for folks than hearing from the same people again and again.

On how attendees should prepare for ViVE

Although we’ve done a better job at trying to avoid overlap and competing demands on peoples’ time, I still think it’s worthwhile going through the agenda ahead of time. Use the app to schedule your time and set reminders. There is still a lot going on, and so, it’s a good idea to get organized before you set foot onsite.

On choosing Nashville as a destination

Personally, I really appreciate the opportunity to go to new places. Having a slightly smaller conference allows us to diversify in terms of location. Nashville is fun — the nightlife and the music are great. I think people are really going to enjoy that aspect of it.