Dr. Nahum Kovalski z”l was an incredible person to know – on the one hand so knowledgeable and on the other hand, modest and easy going. He was always with a smile and his enthusiasm was catchy, especially when it came to the latest advances in medicine and healthcare.
Dr. Kovalski was the author of the first posts and industry briefs on JLM-Biocity. He dedicated his life to melding a bridge between medicine and technology for the betterment of patient care.
Dr Kovalski often found himself in situations where medical and technology teams were standing on either side of a chasm, unable to understand each other. Dr Kovalski endeavored to find ways to bring them together. He was a physician who designed multiple interdisciplinary projects that he himself has used. His biggest project to date was designing from scratch and continuing the development of an electronic medical record (EMR) called PARPAR, over an 11 year period at TEREM Emergency Medical Services. This EMR system was way ahead of its times in Israel. The latest and most powerful features included clinical assist tools and analytics, which assisted the doctor in targeting problems. All patients could, immediately on being released access their medical data from Terem digitally and their latest medical data immediately updated the medical databases wither at their medical sick funds (kupat holim) and/or hospitals, all according to the Israeli law. Dr Kovalski had an extensive background in computer programming, project planning, clinical medical practice and medical management.
In recent years, he brought a unique perspective to the table via his private consultation in Medicine and Technology, the “Medical Futurist”. Dr Kovalski would say,”The answer to every technology question is “yes”. The issues are time, money and desire.” He believed that we need to understand a doctor’s viewpoint, as well as the technical possibilities and limitations of today’s technologies. He was concerned with the upcoming needs of a medical service.
The JLM-BioCity Briefs began with Dr Kovalski’s contribution of his recent collected bio medical newsbriefs. He believed that disseminating medical information is so important, especially in this age of faster and faster progress. He said, “We are living in a time that requires personal “ upgrades” in knowledge base and toolset.” And, he was doing his bit to help. “When you have a perspective that is unique, it creates an opportunity to help others succeed and to do it faster.”
The articles posted in the blog were originally published in The Times of Israel, who graciously gave permission to republish them here. For the original articles, see: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/nahum-kovalski/
The JLM-BioCity community is greatful to Dr Kovalski for helping us kickstart our resource collection on this site. We will endeavor to continue in the spirit of what he started. We mourn his passing.
Dr Kovalski had the foresight not many have. He envisioned the digital health world many years before it became a reality. Dr Kovalski was one of the most knowledgeable people we have known and his purpose in life was to help, not for credit, just to help, help make this world a better place.
