Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/1010198
T M C » P U L S E | A U G U S T 2 0 1 8 2 TMC | PULSE Vol. 5 No. 7 August 2018 President and Chief Executive Officer William F. McKeon Communications Director Ryan Holeywell Pulse Editor Maggie Galehouse mgalehouse@tmc.edu Assistant Editor Cindy George cgeorge@tmc.edu Staff Writers Alexandra Becker Christine Hall Britni R. McAshan Shanley Pierce Photojournalist Cody Duty Contributing Photographers Scott Dalton Nick de la Torre NEWSROOM 713-791-8812 news@tmc.edu ADVERTISING Felicia Zbranek-Zeitman 713-791-8829 newsads@tmc.edu DISTRIBUTION Daniel Martinez 713-791-6136 distribution@tmc.edu READ US ONLINE tmc.edu/news FOLLOW US @TXMedCenter @texasmedcenter @thetexasmedicalcenter TMC Pulse is an award-winning monthly publication of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Permission from the editor is required to reprint any material. WILLIAM F. McKEON President and Chief Executive Officer Texas Medical Center Mark Mulligan/© Houston Chronicle. Used with permission. A s patients, when we're asked to evaluate our health care, we think about our interactions with the medical personnel who treat us and the facilities we visit. But we also think about things that don't have a lot to do with medical care. We value doctors' offices that make it easy to get an appointment. We want facilities near home or work that offer ample parking. And when we show up, we don't want to spend an inordinate amount of time in the waiting room. Health care organizations today have placed a renewed emphasis on customer satisfaction, so they're working to address these concerns and more. They remind patients of their appointments through email and text messages. They're making it easier for patients to see test results and other records online. All these enhance- ments increase patient satisfaction with health facilities. But what's next? Today, a hospital, clinic or doctor's office is usually the hub of your medical information. It's where you go to find out the status of your health and the progress of your recovery. But imagine a future in which your smartphone serves as the "router" for all your medical information, thanks to connected sensors, real-time data transmission and artificial intelligence that can detect a condition before you (or even your doctor) can recognize it. These capabilities actually exist today. As we move forward, our goal is to integrate these technologies to create a seamless network of care that extends beyond our hospitals and clinics, directly to our patients when they return to home and work. America's 65-and-over population is projected to nearly double over the next three decades. We must find new ways to connect with these patients and provide care for them in the comfort of their homes. The connected future promises to bring us enhanced care that ultimately makes us healthier—and works better for patients and providers alike. President's Perspective