Knowledge,Analysis,Perseverance,and Prevention

We are often asked about knowledge. What is it? How do you obtain it? What is it used for? Is it relevant today? These are but a few queries that are always with us but often forgotten, misguided or sometimes just plain ignored. Currency of knowledge in our contemporary time period is of vital importance. We have observed, often with trepidation, an assault on science and facts associated with it. The diatribe from politicians and the populace that is influenced by them and the for-profit news media have contributed to the challenges that science faces, which ultimately impacts human existence.

Many individuals get their science news from general media outlets not scientific journals. ¹ In Gerbina's 2021 article, the concept of fake news is addressed. Although a new term bandied about in recent political discourse, it does harken back to HG Wells' radio program “War of the Worlds.” ² A well-prepared populace must be informed to persevere.

Over millennia, we have made discovery after discovery at an ever-increasing rate. Those who pushed the boundaries and challenged the status quo—the feudal kings, empires, and religion itself—propelled us into the world we live in today. Plagues, revolutions, communications, computers, standards for public health, modern medicine, flight, and personal choice have delivered us to this very point in time.

We have used these events to shape our insatiable desire to gain knowledge. With this knowledge, we have also developed tools to analyze these data to create a better understanding of what is and what is to come. This in turn leads us to developing policy and regulations that govern modern societies. The intricacies of this are not to be considered lightly. There is fragility in this construct. The dependence on the electric grid or in my case the storage capacity of my server at the university can be a literal show stopper! We yearn for knowledge of subjects that have little meaning in our everyday lives. For example, what is the medical condition of an important person, the mental capacity of a leader, who is in what relationship with who, is climate change real, or where is the closest coffee shop. This is our nature—to be informed.

Knowledge leads to and/or is influenced by innovation. In his special communication, entitled “Disseminating Innovations in Health Care” by Dr. Donald Berwick, he states that dissemination can be slow and influenced by many factors and perhaps belief systems. ³ Although the pandemic caused an abrupt change, it also highlighted ineptness in preparedness. Sriharan et al. address this is their 2021 piece on public health and health sector leadership. ⁴ We know that crisis and challenges create something new out of chaos. Thus, the impact on telemedicine and telehealth.

From personal experiences in this field for >30 years, I can attest that often information in books, this journal, the library, or from that early pioneer in whatever subject is at hand is either not looked at or is only tangentially reviewed. Each new generation that comes along believes there is a better way. New knowledge is acquired every day because of innovation and new ways of analyzing data. Consider artificial intelligence—(we cannot forget its impact), it provides rapid review of datasets, which can create new paradigms and ways of thinking. This is of course if it is used wisely and not necessarily shackled with too many regulations.

Overtime, science has persevered against many barriers that are manmade or nature induced. In our quest for better health care, we continue to push the limits. As we accelerate along this path, we must be cognizant of information overload, inaccuracies, and misinterpretation. Opinions matter but facts are facts. This journal brings you data, experiences, and analysis of what others have done in their work in telemedicine and telehealth. As we continue to learn from one another, we can gain more knowledge.

Information, knowledge, and our ability to analyze data rapidly lead to prevention. If we are aware of what science provides, we can develop preventative systems to enhance a better life for all!