This week I seem to have all things medical on my mind. Maybe it’s because I scheduled myself for a dentist and doctor’s appointment plus a vet visit for my dog that my ears perked up when NPR aired a great interview with Dr. William Hanson, author of “The Edge of Medicine”.

Hanson’s book introduces us to the exciting world of medical technology. There’s an electronic nose that can sniff a patient’s breath and detect the scent of bacteria and fungus that are present with liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, pneumonia and even sinusitis. What else is being worked on? Proton beam therapy to destroy tumors without touching any surrounding tissue – think prostrate cancer. Robotic surgery that deploys from inside the body making incisions unnecessary. And ‘doc in the box’ patient care monitoring using video and audio technology. Scotty won’t have to beam us up anymore. The future is here!