MedTech Conference 2022, in Boston, one of MedTech’s leading annual events, has wrapped up, and we caught up with our Huma MedTech team to get the low down on all the industry buzz from this year's show.
How would you describe the excitement at this event, and what can we expect at MedTech in 2023 and beyond?
This was the first in-person MedTech Conference since the Covid-19 pandemic, and while some may believe it was smaller than previous years, it was a productive meeting for the sharing of ideas and concepts between industry peers in a post-pandemic world.
Peter Cooke - MedTech at Huma said “Overall I think there was a lot of excitement to have an in-person event. It was particularly welcome to see so many senior execs and CEOs back in a face-to-face event. I’m sure the event will have even greater senior attendance next year, as we get back to a fully post-Covid world".
The AdvaMed Board of Directors Dinner emerged as an important meeting place for industry leaders; this could be a pivotal event for companies wanting exposure with senior-level stakeholders attending this conference.
What were some of the major themes that emerged from this year's conference?
The topics discussed ranged from market accessibility to expanding the patient base, but a key theme was connecting with existing patients and reaching out to new ones. There were several presentations from Smith & Nephew, Zimmer Biomet and Stryker where actual patients shared their experience of products and how this impacted their care. They also touched on how current technology has changed healthcare for doctors and consumers alike - an evident change as patients become more digitally savvy, enabling them to participate actively in the decision-making process of their care paths.
Jim Sheils - MedTech at Huma said “This change in patient behaviour, and a desire by MedTech to involve patients more in feedback and product design, is one where remote patient monitoring, and real-world evidence collection, by companies like Huma, can help to transform the way MedTech and their customers, engage with patients.”
Another key theme which surfaced was the need to attract digital talent across the industry. The recruitment of skilled people like developers to build and implement innovative digital solutions is moving to the forefront of minds and conversations across MedTech. We’re now seeing this as a key component for forming and evolving propositions where many companies are still only just setting out on their journey to understanding the impact of digital experiences.
“As a tech company, we’ve always been aware of the talent shortage within our field, especially as healthtech specifically is still an industry in the process of growth. It’s interesting to see large MedTech organisations now facing the same issues as they establish their own digital teams. There are a lot of learnings to be shared, and a necessary focus on talent development from both sides.” - Alex Gilbert, MedTech at Huma.
