This has been an unusually unsettling week. The optimism for change created by the mid term elections were quickly dashed or muted by the never ending breaking news. Unsubstantiated claims from the highest level about voter fraud – most likely because the outcomes were not as hoped. Firing the US Attorney General was much anticipated but the questionable replacement cast serious concern on that critical position and specifically the Mueller investigation. The fires in California are beyond anyone’s ability to comprehend or predict. One self-important person quickly and incorrectly jumped to the lack of preventative measures to explain the scope of the devastation. Really, really, really sad commentary on leadership during a time when support and empathy should have been the rally cry. The heroism displayed by so many responders as well those whose homes and lives have been irrevocably altered is an inspiration. As daunting as this week seemed it provides a shining example of the indomitable American spirit.
Why should we look to the future with hope… I read with interest Time Magazine’s article on 50 most influential people in Health Care. The most often cited concern in the election – Americans are concerned about health care. We must find ways to provide access and focus on prevention. It is too expensive to treat patients whose ailments might have been prevented or mitigated. Apple and others are working on putting a doctor on your wrist. Apple has developed an open source app so that doctors can share results and clinical data. Their newest watch will include an emergency response system in the event the wearer falls and does not respond as well as a medical grade EKG heart rate monitor. The FDA approved a mobile phone camera into a diagnostic device that can read a urinalysis dipstick. Kaiser Permanente is innovating in wellness in specific communities by targeting ZIP codes in need. Great new research on treating OCD in a concentrated 4 day time session is making headlines because Norwegian psychologists have proven results. No way we can slow or reverse the effects of aging – Dr. David Sinclair of Harvard medical school does not agree. He is testing a pill that appears to lower blood pressure, address weight gain and metabolism, reverse aging vessels and stimulate muscles in mice. The point is that innovation is still happening across our country as well as in the world and it will benefit all of civilization.
The image this week is a space view of our earth from a New Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. (GOES). This $8 billion dollar piece of equipment gives us a detailed birds eye view of North America. The images are four fold better than the previous technology and will give us an early warning system of weather events like hurricanes, lightning storms, and even early stages of wild fires. This seems like an important new resource as we work to sustain our planet and keep populations safe from harm.
“There are dark shadows on the earth, but it’s lights are stronger in the contrast.” Charles Dickens.
Enjoy the week end. Mike