Yi-Tan Call 342: Creating a Health Space

Even though we try to solve them with analytic, divide-and-conquer approaches, diseases and well-being are multi-scale phenomena. They operate at genomic, cellular, immune system, body/mind, family, community and global scales simultaneously.

Tom Munnecke has been wrestling with these issues for a long time, from his years helping architect what is now WorldVistA to current efforts to define a Health Space that integrates these issues. He’s inspired by the Eames’ famous Powers of Ten short, which is now almost in everyone’s hands as the zoomable magic of Google Earth.

Aeronautical engineers talk about “simplicating and adding lightness” to their designs. Have we reached a complexity catastrophe? And if so, how do we simplicate and add lightness to our health care system?

With Tom, let’s discuss:

What is a Health Space? How is it different from today’s frameworks?
How might we jump from today’s siloed approaches to an integrated space?
What could each of us do to further this effort?