Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH) and the TORCH Foundation will be hosting our 11th Annual Rural Hospital Information Technology Conference & Exhibition (HITCON15) on October 8-9, 2015 at The Grand Hyatt in San Antonio. You can download the program agenda here.

With the healthcare market and payment system in transition from fee-for-volume to fee-for-value, hospitals and providers everywhere are faced with daunting challenges to continue providing high-quality care and reducing cost.  Technology can be a game-changer.

This year's conference theme "Healthcare Technology-Playing to Win" focuses on both the offensive and defensive aspects of technology: that is, maximizing and optimizing your technology investment and capabilities, while focusing on security and data protection.

The event will also include a tradeshow with many important vendors showcasing their quality products, services and solutions. Don't miss the opportunity to learn about them and make important contacts.  New this year is the addition of "Product Lab" where vendors will be able to set up shop in one of three dedicated rooms to showcase and provide hands-on, live demonstrations of their product, solution and service offerings.  We are very excited about this new program offering.

Reserve your hotel room before September 23, 2015, by calling the hotel at (210) 224-1234 and mentioning the "TORCH HITCON-Hospital" for the special rate. Or make your reservation online by clicking here. 

Register Now!

Now Seeking Nominations for 2015 HIT Awards! 

These awards will be presented during the HITCON Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 8, 2015.  

2015 Rural Hospital IT Award of Excellence: This award recognizes facilities that have demonstrated successful adoption and meaningful use of a certified electronic health record (EHR) technology in healthcare. Click here for the application. 

2015 Outstanding HIT Partnership Award: This award recognizes a consortium or network that has worked collaboratively and progressively to expand its HIT infrastructure and/or services that has resulted in improved patient care for the local communities or region. Click here for the application. 

2015 Rural Health IT Leadership Award: This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and dedication to the advancement and adoption of health information technology. Click here for the application.  

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS - A certificate of attendance will be provided to all participants, which can be used to claim CE credits from professional associations and state licensing boards. This program provides: 8 hours of CE units for CPAs from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy: sponsor # 04763, no preparation required; and 10 hours of pre-approved ACHE Qualified Education credit for this program toward advancement or recertification in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Participants in this program wishing to have the continuing education hours applied toward ACHE Qualified Education credit should indicate their attendance when submitting application to the American College of Healthcare Executives for advancement or recertification.