This announcement shows the changing doctor-patient relationship: North County’s Palomar Health — including its $1 billion Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, which it touts as the “hospital of the future” — has deployed a 21st century wireless network from Silicon Valley-based AirStrip that enables doctors and other providers to access patients’ near real-time clinical data from mobile phones, iPads and other digital devices. Mikhail Malek, Palomar’s medical director for cardiac services, said the mobile network enables his office to “respond to our patients in a minimal amount of time, without having to wait for an image to be sent, which is extremely important in minimizing damage to the heart.” … Politicians from both sides of the U.S-Mexico border gathered in Otay Mesa on Dec. 10 to observe the start of construction on a new highway project that should boost commerce between the U.S. and Mexico. The extensive roadwork is planned to be done in three segments over the next few years. The first, the $112 million segment 1 project dedicated last week, involves building the SR 905/SR 11 freeway-to-freeway connectors up to Enrico Fermi Drive to speed the flow of commerce between Tijuana and San Diego. … The growing political power of the region’s bicycle lobby was evident last week when the San Diego City Council approved a bicycle master plan update that outlines some eye-popping increases to the existing network. The plan calls for adding 878 miles of bicycle lanes and routes to the existing 500 miles for $312 million during the next 20 years. For details about what’s been approved, visit sdcbc.org. …The San Diego office of Manpower has released a survey about regional businesses’ hiring plans for first quarter 2014, and the outlook is a mixed bag. The survey found that 15 percent of businesses plan to hire more workers, while 11 percent said they will decrease staffing levels. Another 71 percent said they will keep their staffing at current levels, and 3 percent were not sure of their plans. It all amounts to about a 4 percent increase in new hires for the first quarter, which is not that much of a shift. … Finally: How many homeless are there in San Diego County? The Regional Task Force on Homelessness plans to find out Jan 24, when it conducts an on-the-ground census with the help of 1,000 volunteers. The agency said the count will help the region better understand the “scope, impact and potential solutions to the homelessness.” It said the count will also be used to help agencies qualify for federal funding to assist those without housing. Till next week.
Contributing Editor Tom York writes the SDBJ Insider. You can reach him via email at tyork@sdbj.com or tom.york@gmail.com.