Derived from data from the Missouri Ethics Commission

After more than five years since we lobbied for a better medical malpractice system in the Show-Me State, occasionally we observe a stark reminder of just how far and fast our medical, biotechnological, and genomic systems are advancing.  Normally, through working with current and former lobbying clients like the Monsanto Company, AT&T, and the Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists, we can feel like our knowledge is updated, contemporary, and forward-looking.

However, the convergent technologies used with iphone devices, wireless communication, and vital life indicators all featured in this 15 minute video represented a brave new world for me.

For Missouri physicians, surgeons, dentists, and supervising care team leaders, imagine the numerous possibilities.  For Missouri hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and rural health clinics, consider the changing landscape for how care could be accessed in remote locations.  For patients and consumers, behold some real promises to improve patient safety, early intervention, and preventative health.

If only a fraction of these technologies prove useful, advocates and healthcare organizations will be faced with how make such practices fit into our patchwork of professional licensing, collaborative care, and healthcare reimbursement laws.  Given that techniques like telemedicine have already-been identified as a wave toward our healthcare future, maybe we should starting thinking sooner rather than later about ways to make our regulations more useful.

The District 7 Community Partnership’s Annual Officer of the Year Luncheon, held at The Pageant in the Delmar Loop, honored 18 officers chosen by their peers to have the distinguished honor of being awarded Officer of the Month—of those 18, one, Officer Michael Butler was named 2009 Officer of the Year. Officer Butler received a Proclamation from Representative William Lacy Clay, “designating February 25, 2010 as ‘Police Officer Michael Butler Day’ in the First Congressional District of Missouri.”

The annual event drew a crowd of nearly 400 people from the surrounding community; and the program included Ed Goodman of KEZK as Master of Ceremonies, the St. Louis Metro Police Department Honor Guard; Chief Daniel Isom; Captain D. Sam Dotson; Mark Jaffe, President of the District 7 Community Partnership; Do The Right Thing videos submitted by three area schools; and St. Louis Blues player Cam Janssen as the featured speaker.

Mark Jaffe recognized and announced the new partnership between the District 7 Community Partnership and Pelopidas, LLC that has flourished in recent months. The Community Partnership, via the Business Liaison Officer—Officer Phil Green, reached out to Pelopidas for help in creating an annual fundraising plan. The Pelopidas Team updated and re-launched the Community Partnership’s website (www.7thdistrict.org), incorporating video capabilities so the District 7 community can hear directly from the officers that serve and protect them daily.

Pelopidas Media Lab captured the entire program during the annual luncheon as well as interviews with all Officers of the Month and Year in attendance to further honor District 7’s finest via the web, including a congratulatory thank you from Cam Janssen.

Other contributions from the Pelopidas Team included the creation of the Luncheon’s PowerPoint presentation, event sponsorship, onsite program assistance, and broadcasting the event’s program on The Pageant’s big screen via LIVE feed. The Pelopidas Team couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to work in partnership with those that consistently serve and protect our right to crime-free neighborhoods and continually put their life on the line while fighting the good fight. We again congratulate the Officers of the Month and 2009 Officer of the Year as we look forward to our powerful partnership with the District 7 Community Partnership.