HIMSS 2023: Bound by Purpose

Incisive Consultants Leverages Conference to Make An Impact for Children's Hospitals

This spring, Incisive Consultants made their first booth debut at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) in Chicago for an opportunity to learn and connect with industry leaders and professionals on the exciting future of healthcare. The Incisive team decided to shift their presence from the typical booth swag and flashy attractions and did something different to give back.

Displayed at the Incisive booth was a collection of books for ages 0-20—a small sample of the large donation Incisive intended to give back.

“We wanted to find a different way of bringing folks to our booth, and what better way to do that than to advocate for a cause and somehow have the connections we established at the conference help us bring something back to our friends at children’s hospitals,” said Incisive Customer Success Manager, Gabriella Ramirez.

For every individual that visited the booth, Incisive Consultants donated one book on their behalf to a children’s hospital book program at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Washington, or Valley Children’s Hospital in Fresno, California. Incisive Consultants CEO and founder, Christopher Blackerby, pledged to match each donation which resulted in a book count of more than 1,000. This officially broke the record for both hospitals’ biggest book donation count from a single donor!

Many children’s hospitals struggle to keep up with the month-to-month demand of children's book requests. Books help children of all ages disconnect from stress and keep their imaginations and spirits up during their hospital stay. Once a book has been donated, the children keep it and take it home.

Our team purchased and packaged books of all ages to deliver in person to Seattle Children’s and Valley Children’s. The visit to these children’s hospitals made a significant impact on the local communities in which they were based and had a lasting impact on the Incisive team.

“Through talking with the amazing and selfless hospital giving staff and volunteers, we learned about the important difference our books would make for the patients. Visiting patients and connecting with the staff shed light on the demand and need for book donations year-round in children’s hospitals,” said Ramirez.

The project was personal to one of our Incisive team members who was a former patient and recipient of the book program at Valley Children’s.

“Our visit to Valley Children's Healthcare was special, we were greeted with warmth and enthusiasm by the dedicated staff and caregivers who work tirelessly to create a nurturing environment for their young patients. The hospital leaders welcomed us with open arms, appreciating the value of introducing books into the lives of the children they care for,” said CEO Christopher Blackerby.

“We carefully selected a diverse range of books, encompassing different genres, themes, and age groups, ensuring there was something for everyone. I love that their goal is to gift a book to every patient. [In addition,] the Seattle Children's Hospital is renowned for its exceptional care and dedication to the well-being of children. I am deeply grateful to the hospital staff for their unwavering commitment and the incredible work they do every day. This donation is a small gesture of appreciation and support for their invaluable efforts," said Blackerby.

At Incisive, we believe books have the power to transport people to different worlds, ignite imaginations, and inspire everyone to dream big. For children who may be facing challenging circumstances, a captivating story offers a much-needed escape and brings a sense of comfort, hope, and joy during their hospital stay.

HIMSS 2023 reaffirmed Incisive’s commitment to staying at the forefront of healthcare technology and providing exceptional consulting services to our clients. The conference highlighted the incredible advancements already achieved in healthcare technology and enabled the Incisive book drive to be a huge success in support of two remarkable children’s hospitals, we are excited and poised to better shape the future of healthcare.