Medical expo brings future to N. Idaho

The distant future of medicine might be a lot closer than you think.

MAX — Medical Advancement Expo — will make a believer of you.

The brainchild of Northwest Specialty Hospital’s Darron Rock, MAX is the product of inspiration and perspiration. With the support of his hospital’s board and CEO Rick Rasmussen, Rock reached out — cold called, to be precise — people from 130 leading organizations to gauge their interest and availability for an October gathering. With plenty of “ayes,” he’s put together an impressive, interactive multi-day public event.

Demonstrations and news of medical advances featuring the kind of technology hinted at in sci-fi novels and on Star Trek and Star Wars are coming to Coeur d’Alene Oct. 6 and 7. If you missed reporter Judd Wilson’s story on Medical Advancement Expo, The Future of Healthcare, you can read about it here: https://bit.ly/2NukOkQ

Rock’s goal is broad and deep. He hopes the expo leads to stronger local economic development, including great jobs in the medical and technology fields for aspiring prospects. He envisions area medical facilities and practitioners picking up tips and tools that will help them provide better care to their patients. He’s intent on bringing in state legislators and other government officials to see what teamwork might accomplish in further improving Idaho’s medical and technological profile. But he’s also deeply committed to sharing a bunch of brilliant brains with our community, high achievers who can impart not just wisdom but inspiration to attendees.

In case you hadn’t noticed, many of the folks flocking to North Idaho are retirees. These transplants are seeking safe, affordable, low-tax communities that have been kissed by Mother Nature. They also are keenly interested in having their medical needs met by superior providers — which Kootenai County has in abundance. Because the graying of Kootenai County reflects the nation as a whole, many of the most exciting economic development ideas and initiatives focus on health care products and services for that population segment. Hence the intense efforts to further develop the high-paying, richly rewarding health care industry locally.

Rock readily admits that the wheels of MAX started rolling about a year ago, when he was inspired by the Innovation Collective’s Think Big Festival. Only in this case, all profits will go to the local Make-A-Wish Foundation chapter.

Thanks to Darron for thinking big himself.