Today, connectivity is an industry buzz word that applies to many of the important trends in medicine and health care, and it applies to life in general.

Lab information systems (LIS) need to employ middleware to connect with analyzers and other instruments in the lab. LISs also need to access patient records by communicating with physicians' EMRs outside the lab (see cover story).

With the developing convergence of in vitro and in vivo diagnostics, lab administrators, pathologists, and their LISs need to communicate with radiologists and their MRI, CT, PET, and other imaging equipment (see "A Happy Marriage?," August issue of CLP).

Even the government is pushing connectivity with the edict that its agencies hook up in order to provide accessible electronic health records for every American by 2010.

Increasingly, state officials are linking hospitals to electronic databases that will allow health agencies to track infectious-disease outbreaks.

The purpose of making connections and sharing information within medical technology, of course, serves the greater good: disease prevention, early diagnosis, treatments, and cures.

Whichever technological or bottom-line development is on the table in any given month, the bigger picture always seems to hold a meaningful concept that can be applied to life in general. Efficient connectivity and informationsharing among computers are like connecting and communicating with people—at work or in our personal lives.

A fluid workforce in clinical labs and most other industries sees people moving on to take advantage of new opportunities, to fulfill dreams, to retire, or even to transition into another life. When this happens, it's important to look back and know that we connected, shared and communicated.

This has special meaning to the staff of the Allied Health Division of Ascend Media because we have recently said good-bye to some uniquely valuable people.

Among those who have left their mark are CLP Associate Editor Zac Dillon, who moved on to fulfill his dream of extended travel in Europe. Mike Block, the capable editor of Plastic Surgery Products, seized an opportunity close to home that does not require a grueling 3-hour daily commute.

And in a different category altogether was Vladimir Davydov, the art director of Rehab Management, who lost his battle with cancer and sadly transitioned to another life.

Yes, it is necessary to make computers connect and share information for the greater good of patients. It is also important to continue making personal connections and communicating with people, even when information is transferred electronically.

In all situations, connections count.

Cheryl Woodruff