No matter where you stand on the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve all felt the impact as events have transitioned to the virtual environment in 2020. With high hopes of seeing each other face to face in 2021, the question remains: Will in-person events ever be the same?
Though we all got off to a rocky start in the virtual realm earlier this year, doctors, staff, and associations have begun to master the virtual experience with surprising results. Many event attendees have expressed disappointment about not being able to see their colleagues in person, but they were surprised at how convenient it was to attend a virtual event, even for the self-proclaimed “technologically challenged.” Additionally, attendees, vendors, and event staff have embraced the cost savings and convenience of not traveling. So is this the end of in-person events? Not at all. However, a return to the full $235 billion conference industry is not likely. (Morgan, 2020) Despite feeling Zoom fatigue, we have learned there are some significant benefits to virtual conventions.
As an attendee, virtual events are less time-consuming and more cost-effective. Many of us still feel the squeeze of economic instability because of the pandemic, so we are more cautious about spending money to travel to seminars, which takes time away from our patients and families, as well as the cost of the conferences themselves. The transition to virtual conferences has not only reduced the costs of travel but also lowered registration fees, helping all of us get more bang for our buck. Events that were previously too costly and took time away from patients are now convenient and affordable.
Increased flexibility is a definite plus. We all have sat through a session that didn’t live up to the hype, and with no way to sneak out of a session unnoticed, we were forced to stay. With virtual events, we can easily leave the room unnoticed and pop into a different session that offers what we are looking for. This helps maximize the benefit of attending the event and ensures that you get the tools and information you need to be successful.
However, the biggest benefit, in my opinion, is the access to high-quality speakers and thought leaders that were only available to select groups with deep pockets. Event planners are no longer limited by budget constraints and restricted availability due to travel. Speakers such as Dr. Heidi Haavik and Joey Coleman are now more accessible to everyone thanks to virtual events and the ability to speak from the comfort of their homes.
As the “new normal” remains fluid and unpredictable, organizations of any size will realize the benefits of dedicated video and audio expertise for their most important communications and events in the hybrid world of the future. Though most of us eagerly anticipate the return to in-person events in early 2021, national surveys suggest a delay until Q3. (Powderly, 2020) I, for one, miss the energy of in-person events. Though there is no clear plan for the future, we must remain flexible and remember that our level of uncertainty and frustration is minimal compared to those who work so hard to pull these events together. Our state associations are working day and night, transitioning from in-person to virtual and hybrid with ever-changing state rules and regulations for gatherings. They are truly unsung heroes of this pandemic, ensuring that we have access to the required CEs to renew our licenses and see our patients in the midst of chaos.
As we continue moving into the future, it is not a matter of “when” will we see each other again but “how.” Once in-person events resume, they won’t be the same. We will see smaller, more intimate gatherings, and those virtual elements we are experiencing will remain, making it possible for event organizers to reach larger audiences safely. We miss the “experience” of being together, and event planners and platform providers are doing their best to improve attendee engagement to replicate that experience. No matter how virtual events look a year from now, one thing is certain — the world wants to connect, and nothing, including a pandemic, can stifle that desire. The incumbency falls to organizations to foster the ability to connect in a way that benefits everyone involved. (Roberts, 2020).
Dr. Ray Foxworth is a certified Medical Compliance Specialist and President of ChiroHealthUSA. As a practicing Chiropractor, he remains "in the trenches" facing challenges with billing, coding, documentation, and compliance. He has served as president of the Mississippi Chiropractic Association, former Staff Chiropractor at the G.V. Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center, and is a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractic. To request a free one-page financial policy, send an email to [email protected].
