TMS
Editor’s Note
Page 6
Eds’ Note Cont.
According to Erik Christopher Zeeman, Japanese-born British mathematician, ―technical skill is the
mastery of complexity, while creativity is the mastery of simplicity.‖ We find that throughout history,
the trivial solutions were often the best solutions. As technicians, it is in the nature of the profession
to seek technical solutions, mastering complex equipment, and processes. We follow these complex
solutions only because we do not truly understand the simplicity of the subject and/or task at hand.
What seemed complex and impossible ten years ago is trivial to us today. In fact, the human genome was a mystery until 2003! Now, we can design drugs that are more specific and that are simpler in molecular structure than the chemical compounds years prior. Very fascinating, huh!!!
How can we recognize when a simpler solution is required?
Many of us have seen the glamorized shows of medical doctors [i.e. Doctor OZ] making break
through decisions, and solving clinical cases by stringing together pieces of a medical puzzle saving
a patient’s life in only 45 minutes. In addition, there are the other shows about attorneys triumphing
in court cases, [i.e. Matlock, Perry Mason, NOT Ally McBeal, etc] winning a court case, citing legal
precedence, applying new meanings to existing laws as well as to current situations. Well, as glamorized as those shows may be, none of it can happen unless the characters within the stories studied and learned the fundamentals of their profession; years of medicine, years of law school, followed by examinations and boards. They only make it look easy. It requires, not forgetting what you
learned in college, but applying those important fundamentals.
So, it all comes down to learning the fundamentals. Many times, people desire to do the glamorous work in Healthcare Technology Management and we all know what glamorous work I am referring to. The truth is, we could bypass much of today’s VGV6F