Chicago HIMSS Conference Day 4, April 7, 2009

No Keynote speaker today, but I was going to meet with the itSMF Healthcare SIG.  itSMF is Information Technology Service Management Foundation.  That’s a group focused on advancing the premise of service management, which is what I did the last of my old job and what the exact role I hold in my new division.  A SIG is a Special Interest Group, so this is service management applied to healthcare.  So, I joined the Raleigh chapter and got invited to the Greater Chicago area meeting hoping to grow their membership nationally by getting folks from the local SIG to attend this breakfast.  It wasn’t bad, but the food wasn’t healthy again.  Oh well, nothing more I can do.

Today’s sessions were not nearly as bad.  I’d loaded up on education classes and was pleasantly surprised about how well it worked out for me.  I actually had a ratio of good to valuable that was positive this time.  A first for this conference.  I also managed to meet with one of the two guys I now work with that I need to start getting myself in front of more often.  They can help me technically achieve my goals for this new role.

I got back to the hotel and decided I’d have a quiet evening in and order pizza.  A South Chicago staple is Connie’s Pizza.  I found that I can order on-line and they’ll deliver much like the regular chain restaurants.  So, I placed my order and was able to use my AMEX to get it paid.  Of course, once again the hotel bit me in the ass!  The delivery guy couldn’t call my cell phone, it is long distance and WHAT DO YOU KNOW, can’t call my room directly because there’s still no dial tone!  That meant he was sitting down in the lobby for some unknown length of time while he managed to finally tell the desk to call my cell phone.  ARGGH!  Of course, I appreciate that the hotel won’t allow him to come directly to my room, but still!

Got packed and set up a meeting for tomorrow to meet with the other person I needed to meet in person while we were both here.  No telling when I’ll get that chance again.  I called Colleen and told her I was so ready to come home.  I can’t wait to get there.

Bed early and then wrap it up and fly home!

Cheers!