♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," MATT GIORDANO, THE NEW CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF PHOENIX, JOINS US IN STUDIO.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE EFFECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ON TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS FOR MEDICARE RECIPIENTS.

>>> AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A NEW COMPACT X-RAY THAT SEES THINGS A TRADITIONAL X-RAY CAN'T.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M TED SIMONS.

THE CITY OF PHOENIX HAS ITS FIRST PERMANENT POLICE CHIEF IN THREE YEARS.

MATT GIORDANO SPENT 23 YEARS BEFORE RETIRING IN 2017.

HE WENT TO SERVE WITH THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE ARIZONA PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING BOARD.

WE WELCOME PHOENIX POLICE CHIEF MATT GIORDANO TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, TED, I APPRECIATE IT.

TED: DID I GET THE DATES RIGHT?

>> 23 YEARS.

TED: 23 YEARS, ALL RIGHT.

CHIEF OF POLICE, CITY OF PHOENIX, WHY DID YOU WANT THIS JOB?

>> A GREAT QUESTION AND ONE A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKED ME.

I HAD A GREAT JOB, A GREAT CAREER, I WAS NOT UNHAPPY WHEN I LEFT THE DEPARTMENT.

I WAS IN A GREAT PLACE.

PAUL PENZONE OFFERED ME A REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IT FOLLOW THE FORMER SHERIFF.

I RETIRED HAPPY.

THE CITY OF PHOENIX WAS GREAT TO ME.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WONDERFUL PLACE TO WORK.

I WAS AT ARIZONA POST, BEEN THERE 6 1/2 YEARS, ANOTHER GREAT JOB, SURROUNDED BY REALLY GOOD PEOPLE CERTIFYING AND TRAINING POLICE OFFICERS FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, AND THEN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME OPEN, AND I THOUGHT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WHY NOT?

WHY NOT ME?

END MY CAREER WEARING THIS UNIFORM WHERE I BEGAN THIS CAREER.

HERE I AM.

TED: YOU MENTIONED STANDARDS AND BOARDS AND THESE THINGS, WHAT CAN YOU TAKE FROM THAT EXPERIENCE TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW?

>> 100%.

EVERYTHING I LEARNED THERE IS TRANSFERRED TO OUR MEN NOW.

I GREW UP IN PHOENIX PD.

I HAD 23 YEARS OF HOW WE HIRE, TRAINED, DISCIPLINED AND HELD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE, AND I GOT TO SEE IT FROM THE SHERIFF'S PERSPECTIVE, TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

AND ARIZONA POST, SUPERVISED AND OVERSAW 158 POLICE AGENCIES, SO I SAW ALL THE SAME THINGS, HOW THEY TRAINED, HOW THEY HIRED, DISCIPLINED THEIR OFFICERS.

I'M TAKING THE BEST OF ALL THAT AND BRINGING IT BACK TO THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT YOU.

>> USED THE WORD ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHAT DOES THAT WORD MEAN TO YOU?

>> WE NEED TO HIRE HUMANS AND HUMANS MAKE MISTAKES AND NEED TO TRAIN THEM TO DO THEIR JOB EFFECTIVELY.

HUMANS ARE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES AND ARE GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.

WE NEED TO POINT OUT WHERE THEY FAILED TO MEET EXPECTATIONS AND FIGURE OUT WHY.

IS IT INTENTIONAL?

WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT, OR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND SKILLS AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.

WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

TED: DO THESE THINGS GO IN CYCLES, MORE OF ONE THING, LESS OF ONE THING, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING HERE?

>> I DO.

WE LOOK FOR PATTERNS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

IF WE SEE THREE AND FOUR OFFICERS IN THE SAME WEEK DO SOMETHING WRONG, CLEARLY THERE'S A TRAINING ISSUE, WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE MADE A MISTAKE.

IT'S CYCLICAL ALL OVER THE VALLEY, ALL OVER THE DEPARTMENT ON OFFICER MISCONDUCT WHERE PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES.

>> YOU USE THE WORD TRANSPARENCY.

IN THIS CONTEXT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

>> WE'RE AN OPEN BOOK.

WE SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND IF WE MAKE A MISTAKE, WE EXPLAIN HOW IT HAPPENED AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE THAT IN THE FUTURE.

AGAIN, IT'S THE WHY.

I TALK A LOT ABOUT WHY.

WHEN SOMEONE ASKED ME WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?

I EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

HISTORICALLY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN GOOD AT THAT IN THE POLICE WORLD.

TED: HAS THAT BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON?

>> IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM WITH POLICING IN GENERAL, NOT JUST THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PATROL OFFICER BEING ON A STREET CORNER GUARDING A SCENE AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER WOULD ASK ME WHAT'S GOING ON?

I KNEW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I WAS TRAINED UNOFFICIALLY, NO COMMENT, NOTHING TO SEE HERE, KEEP MOVING ON.

NOW LOOKING BACK, I'M ALMOST A LITTLE ASHAMED BECAUSE I COULD HAVE ALLEVIATED CONCERNS.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE CONCERNED FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, I COULD HAVE ALLEVIATED THAT.

I TRAIN THAT.

WHEN I TEACH AT THE ACADEMY, I TALK TO THE RECRUITS, LET'S TELL THE PEOPLE THE WHY.

TED: WE'VE HAD, THIS IS A WHY I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, AN INCREASE OF POLICE-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, NINE FATAL THIS YEAR, I THINK THE MAYOR CALLED IT UPTICK.

WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN OFFICE.

WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> IT'S A CYCLE.

THINGS GO UP AND DOWN.

WE HAD A RUN IN THE LAST EIGHT WEEKS, WE'VE HAD TEN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.

NINE OF THOSE CALLS ARE CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT WE RESPONDED TO, THEY WEREN'T INITIATED BY THE OFFICER.

WE GET CALLED WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BAD DAYS.

WE'RE CALLED TO RESPOND TO THOSE AND HAVE TO HANDLE THOSE ACCORDINGLY.

WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE.

WE LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL AVENUES OF TRAINING SHOULD BE THAT NECESSARY, ALWAYS CRITIQUING.

WE'RE OUR BIGGEST CRITICS AND CRITIQUE EVERYTHING WE DO.

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE.

>> THE IDEA OF DE-ESCALATION AND THE IDEA OF LESS-LETHAL METHODS.

WHEN YOU SEE AN UPTICK, AS THE MAYOR CALLED IT, JUST AN INCREASE, IS THAT A TIME TO REINFORCE THOSE IDEAS?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ROLLED OUT A PROGRAM WE DID LAST YEAR CALLED TIME, DISTANCE AND COVER TRAINING, I WENT THROUGH IT LAST WEEK, THEY ARE GOOD REFRESHERS TO OUR OFFICERS THAT TIME'S ON OUR SIDE, SLOW THINGS DOWN, TAKE YOUR TIME.

DISTANCE.

KEEP DISTANCE FROM THE PERSON YOU ARE DEALING WITH.

AND COVER, STAND BEHIND SOMETHING SO YOU HAVE THE BUFFER BETWEEN YOU AND THE PERSON YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

JUST A REFRESHER.

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE.

TED: AS CHIEF OF POLICE, THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNDER THE EYE OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND FOUND A BUNCH OF THINGS THERE.

NOT ANYMORE BUT WAS FOR QUITE AWHILE HERE.

DO YOU THINK THE DEPARTMENT DID ENGAGE IN, IF NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL, CERTAINLY QUESTIONABLE METHODS REGARDING THE HOMELESS, REGARDING PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

THAT'S WHAT THE D.O.J.

FOUND, DID YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I DIDN'T.

I READ THE REPORT, READ IT MULTIPLE TIMES.

THERE ARE THINGS WE'RE TAKING AWAY FROM THEM.

PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES WE'VE ALREADY CHANGED BASED ON THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, REFERENCE THAT REPORT.

I THINK THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A VERY GOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT.

DO WE MAKE MISTAKES?

ABSOLUTELY.

ARE WE ALWAYS LOOKING INTERNALLY TO SEE HOW WE MAKE THINGS BETTER?

WE'RE DOING THAT AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO OWN SOME OF THAT AND MOVE FORWARD AND GET BORDER.

TED: WHEN THEY MENTION EXCESSIVE FORCE, IS THAT SOMETHING NOT IGNORED BUT IS IT SOMETHING THAT IS LOOKED AT, EXAMINED AND WORKED UPON, TO THE EXTENT THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WILL SAY YES, WE FEEL BETTER ABOUT THIS?

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT EVERYONE, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY DON'T FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT?

>> THAT'S A CONCERN OF MINE.

WE INVESTIGATE EVERY SINGLE USE OF FORCE ON OUR DEPARTMENT, AND THOSE REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW DOWN THE ROAD.

>> SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WATCHING RIGHT NOW THAT ARE IFFY ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT'S PAST?

>> ASK US QUESTIONS, ASK US QUESTIONS.

REQUEST DOCUMENTATION, IF YOU'D LIKE TO READ IT FOR YOURSELF, LOOK AT OUR DASHBOARDS ON PHOENIX.GOV FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE POST A LOT OF THINGS ONLINE NOW.

YOU CAN READ THE REPORTS, READ THE INVESTIGATIONS.

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT SEEING ON THERE, MAKE A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, WE'RE FULLY TRANSPARENT AND WILL RELEASE THE DOCUMENTS TO YOU.

WE POLICE TO THE EXPECTATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND I BELIEVE THE COMMUNITY EXPECTS US TO BE TRANSPARENT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

TED: LAST QUESTION, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OFFICERS, TO RANK AND FILE, YOU WANT TO SUPPORT OFFICERS WHAT THEY NEED TO SERVE THE CITY BETTER.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM TO GIVE CONFIDENCE IN YOU?

>> I SUPPORT THEM, FOLLOW THE RULES, TREAT PEOPLE WELL, AND I WILL SUPPORT THEM 100%.

TED: DO YOU THINK THAT MESSAGE IS GETTING THROUGH?

>> I THINK IT IS.

I'M HITTING THE BRIEFINGS, HITTING BUREAUS AND PRECINCTS AND TALKING TO OFFICERS ON THE STREET TO ENGAGE IN WHERE THEY WORK.

I'M LISTENING TO THEM.

WE HAVE A WEB E-MAIL ADDRESS THAT COMES DIRECTLY TO ME, IF THEY SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONS AND I'M ROUTINELY ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

MAKING MYSELF AVAILABLE, TRANSPARENT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS TRANSPARENT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN INSIDE THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT.

TED: PHOENIX POLICE CHIEF MATT GIORDANO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CONVERSATION, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE IT.

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TED: TELEHEALTH WAIVERS FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS DATE BACK TO THE PANDEMIC AND ALLOW THE PATIENTS TO RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE IN THEIR HOMES BUT THE WAIVER EXPIRED.

CONGRESS ALLOWING THE WAIVERS TO LAPSE DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF LOSING TELEHEALTH SERVICES FOR THOSE ON MEDICARE?

WE ASK FORMER STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR WILL HUMBLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TED.

TED: IS TELEHEALTH NO LONGER BEING PAID FOR EVERYONE ON MEDICARE OR SOME ON MEDICARE?

HOW IS IT WORKING?

>> DEPENDS WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHAT KIND OF MEDICARE YOU HAVE.

IF YOU HAVE REGULAR MEDICARE, MEDICARE AND YOU'RE IN PHOENIX OR TUCSON, AN URBAN AREA, BASICALLY IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS, PRIMARY CARE VISIT, FOLLOW-UP FOR DIABETES, STUFF LIKE THAT.

IT'S NO LONGER AUTHORIZED.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN BILL FOR AND GET PAID FOR.

THERE'S A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

THERE'S A FEW MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO GET TELEHEALTH ON TRADITIONAL MEDICARE, ESPECIALLY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE, BUT MOST OF IT CAN'T BE DONE IN THE HOME ANYMORE.

THAT'S THE KEY FEATURE WITH TELEHEALTH, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T DRIVE ANYMORE, AND NEED TO SEE THEIR DOCTOR, AND TELEHEALTH GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE INTERACTION WITH THEIR DOCTOR, GET A PRESCRIPTION, ASSESSMENT, GET GUIDANCE FROM THE DOC, WITHOUT HAVING TO DRIVE IN, AND THE DRIVING PART OF IT IS A KEY FEATURE WHY MEDICARE AND TELEHEALTH WAS SO IMPORTANT AND WHY PEOPLE AND NOT JUST PEOPLE, PROVIDERS, DOCTORS LIKED IT TOO.

TED: AGAIN, NO APPOINTMENTS NOW, IF YOU HAD AN APPOINTMENT PRIOR TO OCTOBER FIRST, YOU'RE OKAY.

>> I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T REALLY KNOW.

THE REIMBURSEMENT ENDED ON OCTOBER 1 FOR THOSE THINGS.

TED: I GOT YOU.

>> IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING PAID FOR SOMETHING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.

TED: WE'RE TALKING WELLNESS VISITS, AUDIO ONLY VISITS, BALL GAME, IT'S OVER?

>> PRETTY MUCH, YEAH.

NOT FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

CERTAIN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY FROM YOUR HOME, YOU KNOW?

SO MY TAKE HOME MESSAGE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE LISTENING OUT THERE, DON'T GET MAD AT YOUR DOCTOR OR THE PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T MAKE A TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENT.

IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER APPROVED BY MEDICARE.

TED: ARE DOCTORS, HOSPITALS GOING AHEAD WITH THE HOPE OF GETTING REIMBURSEED?

>> SOMEBODY BE DOING THAT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT JUST TRADITIONAL MEDICARE BUT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS AND SOME ARE MORE FLEXIBLE ON TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS.

TED: THERE IS NOT A GUARANTEE AND IT'S A HUGE DEAL?

>> IT'S A BIG DEAL, ESPECIALLY SENIORS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING AROUND, MAYBE DON'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE ANYMORE OR KNOW THEY'RE A HAZARD ON THE ROAD AND SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING, AND THEY MADE THIS TELEHEALTH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DOCTOR FOR THE DIABETES, FOR THE ARTHRITIS, FOR WHATEVER THE CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITION IS, AND NOW THEY'RE LOSING THAT.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THERE WASN'T MUCH TELEHEALTH.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT IT CAME IN FORCE, AND PEOPLE REALLY LIKED IT, BOTH PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS.

TED: YOU MENTIONED CONDITIONS THERE.

ARE THERE ILLNESSES, CONDITIONS THAT ARE MORE AFFECTED THAN OTHERS?

>> SO THAT -- I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A BILL IN CONGRESS CALLED THE CONNECT ACT, IT'S BIPARTISAN, AND THE GOAL OF THE CONNECT ACT IS TO, A, REAUTHORIZE TELEHEALTH BUT ALSO ANSWER THAT QUESTION YOU JUST ASKED.

WHAT KINDS OF CONDITIONS HAVE A POSITIVE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR TELEHEALTH, SO THAT MAKES IT MORE EFFECTIVE AND CHEAPER, SO WE ALREADY KNOW THINGS LIKE DIABETES CARE, SOME KINDS OF PRIMARY CARE VISITS.

A WHOLE HOST OF CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

THIS IS A REAL EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROVIDE THE CARE FOR PEOPLE, BUT THE CONNECT ACT WOULD DIVE INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT AND GET MORE REFINED.

THE OTHER THING THE CONNECT ACT WOULD DO IS SET UP AN AUDITING SYSTEM SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE AN ENTIRE MEDICARE SYSTEM TO SAY, HEY, LOOK, TO LOOKING FOR THE FRAUD PIECE.

TED: YES.

>> AND THAT'S WHY TELEHEALTH WAS SO FAR BEHIND THE CURVE IS BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS SO AFRAID OF THIS IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH FRAUD.

MEDICAID, AHCCCS WAS AFRAID OF TELEHEALTH TOO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SO THE CONNECT ACT WOULD DO THAT LOOP, A, LOOK AT KINDS OF THINGS IT'S GOOD FOR, BUT B, SET UP AUDITING SYSTEM, ANY TIME YOU HAVE A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, THERE'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO GAME IT AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO PREVENT THAT.

TED: BEING THAT SAID, THE CONNECT ACT IS THERE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR IT?

>> YES, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR IT.

TED: OKAY, IF THERE IS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THIS, COULD THIS BE ENTRY WAY TO GETTING THE TELEHEALTH SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY WITH FOLKS ON MEDICARE TO GETTING THIS STUFF BACK ONLINE, OR IS THAT CAUGHT UP IN GRIDLOCK?

ONCE AGAIN, THESE FOLKS COME BACK?

>> IT'S ALL GRIDLOCK RIGHT NOW, THE HOUSE ISN'T IN SESSION TO DO ANYTHING.

TED: RIGHT.

>> I THINK LAWMAKERS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS.

SENIORS ARE NOT SHY ABOUT TELLING THEIR CONGRESS PERSONS THEY'RE PISSED ABOUT SOMETHING, AND THEY'RE GOING TO START HEARING AS MORE OF MOVER THESE APPOINTMENTS BEING DENIED.

I JUST WANT TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO THEM, DON'T GET MAD AT YOUR DOCTOR, GET MAD AT YOUR CONGRESS PERSON AND SENATORS WHO HAVEN'T BROUGHT THIS UP.

TED: WE'RE GETTING INTO COLD AND FLU SEASON, AND THAT PUTS AN ACCENT ON EVERYTHING.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU MENTIONED, REFERRED TO THIS EARLIER, BUT IS TELEHEALTH A REMNANT OF THE PANDEMIC?

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT EXISTED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC?

YOU SAY EVERYONE LOVES IT AND WANT TO GET IT BACK.

THAT BEING SAID, IT WASN'T THERE ALL THAT MUCH BEFORE, ARE WE GOING TO GO BACK TO THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK IT'S TOO VALUABLE.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DEMAND THAT IT COME BACK.

ESPECIALLY SENIORS, WHICH IS THE MEDICARE POPULATION.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE WAS A LITTLE TELEHEALTH BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, IT'S LIKE WORK FROM HOME.

TED: YEAH.

>> NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE WORK FROM HOME.

NOW IT'S SUPER COMMON PLACE.

SAME THING WITH TELEHEALTH, IT SHOWED IT CAN BE COST EFFECTIVE, NOT MUCH FRAUD, AND PATIENTS AND DOCTORS LIKE IT, AND DOCTORS CAN SEE MORE PATIENTS TOO, AND PATIENTS DON'T HAVE TO DO ALL THAT DRIVING.

TED: LIKE THE ZOOM OF HEALTH CARE, RIGHT?

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ZOOM WAS UNTIL THE PANDEMIC, AND NOW YOU CAN'T GET AWAY FROM IT.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO COME BACK, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN PULL SOMETHING LIKE THIS AWAY FROM PEOPLE THAT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL OVER THE LONG RUN.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN GRIDLOCK AND IT'S STUCK BUT IT'S COMING.

TED: IF IT'S STUCK WITH THAT, MAYBE OTHER THINGS COME DOWN THE PIKE AS WELL, AND WE CAN LOOK AT TELEHEALTH AND CONNECT THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

>> THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.

MEDICARE -- TELEHEALTH FOR MEDICARE ISN'T A POLARIZED ISSUE, IT'S JUST STUCK IN THE GRIDLOCK.

TED: WILL HUMBLE, ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, THANK YOU, SIR?

>> MY PLEASURE.

.

TED: THE COMPACT X-RAY FREE ELECTRON LASER, OR CXFEL, IS BEING DEVELOPED BY ASU RESEARCHERS WITH THE GOAL OF SURPASSING CONVENTIONAL X-RAYS BY EXAMINING ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR SCALE STRUCTURES WITH NEW FOUND CLARITY.

JOINING US IS THE DIRECTOR OF ASU'S CXFEL LABS.

THERE HE IS ARVINDER SANDHU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

TED: I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS THE NEXT GENERATION OF X-RAY, TRUE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

CXFEL IS A UNIQUE MACHINE WHICH IS FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS COMBINING VERY HIGH-POWER LASER TECHNOLOGY WITH MINIATURE ACCELERATORS TO PRODUCE X-RAYS THAT CAN HELP US SEE THE ATOMIC SCALE.

THIS MEANS WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE WORKING OF PROTEINS.

WE CAN DO MEDICAL IMAGING IN A SAFER WAY.

WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT THE MATERIALS WHICH ARE IMPORTANT FOR LIGHT HARVESTING AND GENERATION.

WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT CXFEL, THERE ARE ONLY FIVE OR SO X-RAY LASERS IN THE WORLD, AND THEY'RE ALL VERY BIG MACHINES.

THEY HAVE ACCELERATORS AND TUNNELS THAT ARE KILOMETERS LONG AND COST BILLIONS TO BUILD.

IT IS A 30-FOOT-LONG MACHINE, AND IT COSTS MILLIONS, IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS A MINI PARTICLE ACCELERATOR, IS THAT WHAT IT IS?

>> ONE KEY PART IS MINI ACCELERATOR, THE OTHER IS LASERS.

WE BRING THEM TOGETHER BY WIGGLING THE ELECTRONS.

>> YOU CAN LEARN WHAT PROTEINS ARE AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

USING X-RAYS, WE CAN -- I CAN GIVE ANALOGY HERE, WHICH MIGHT BE USEFUL.

IF YOU ARE SIT BUYING A LAKESHORE AND RELAXED AND WATCHING THE WAVES COME BY, THE WAVES COME IN PREDICTABLE PATTERNS, BUT IF THERE ARE ROCKS NEAR THE LAKE SHOW, THE WAVES DEFLECT OFF THE ROCKS AND MAKE INTERESTING PATTERNS.

X-RAYS FOR US ARE THE WAVES WHICH HIT THE ATOMS INSIDE THE PROTEIN, WHICH ARE LIKE ROCKS IN THE LAKE.

THE X-RAYS DEFLECT, AND WE CAPTURE THE DEFLECTED X-RAYS ON THE DETECTOR AND BACK CALCULATE WHERE THE ATOMS ARE IN THE PROTEIN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROTEIN WAS.

TED: IS QUANTUM PHYSICS INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> OF COURSE, WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE ATOMS MOVE.

THE ELECTRONS AND ATOMS MOVE AT FAST QUANTUM TIME SCALES WHICH APPROACH MILLIONS OF A BILLIONTH OF A SECOND.

WE WANT TO MAKE THE MOVIES OFF THE MOLECULES AS THEY'RE IN PROCESS OF UNDERGOING CHEMICAL REACTIONS OR TRANSFORMATION.

TED: YOU HAVE SUCCESS REGARDING PROTEINS, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

I'M HAPPY TO REPORT, THANKS TO EXCELLENT WORK FROM TEAMS OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, SOLVED THE VERY FIRST PROTEIN STRUCTURE AT ASU.

WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT NOW WE CAN INVITE OTHER RESEARCHERS WORLDWIDE TO JOIN US IN THIS EFFORT AND ACCELERATE THE PACE OF SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED DISCOVERY IN THE FIELDS.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THE PACE OF DISCOVERY, DISCOVERY FOR WHAT?

HOW DISEASE WORKS?

MEDICINE WORKS?

THOSE THINGS?

>> IT HAS A GENERATIONAL IMPACT ON HEALTH, MEDICINE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE PROTEIN STRUCTURE, YOU CAN DESIGN DRUGS THAT BIND TO THE SPECIFIC STRUCTURE, IT HELPS IN DEVISING NEW DRUGS LIKE FOR ALZHEIMER'S.

YOU CAN DO MEDICAL IMAGING WITH MUCH LESS DOSAGE OF THE X-RAYS.

AND, OF COURSE, ONCE YOU HAVE THESE ULTRAFAST X-RAY PULSES, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THE QUANTUM PARTICLES WORK INSIDE MATERIALS, AND CAN YOU COME UP WITH WAYS TO MAKE QUANTUM DEVICE WHICH CAN HARNESS ENERGY, TRANSFER ENERGY AND STORE ENERGY IN A MUCH BETTER WAY.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, I KEEP THINKING MEDICAL AND HEALTH BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROTEINS HERE.

THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF APPLICATION SAID, AREN'T THERE?

>> TOUCHES ON A LOT OF FIELDS.

IT APPLIES TO COMPUTER CHIPS.

FEATURES SO SMALL THAT YOU CAN'T SEE THEM UNDER A MICROSCOPE, YOU CAN SEE THE X-RAYS TO SEE THE COMPUTER CHIPS, MODERN COMPUTER CHIPS.

TED: THIS IS SO SMALL CAN YOU KEEP IT IN THE BASEMENT OF THE BIODESIGN INSTITUTE, HUH?

>> IT IS SO SUCCESSFUL, WE WANT TO MAKE IT SO ACCESSIBLE, YOU CAN HAVE THEM NOT JUST IN UNIVERSITY LABS.

YOU CAN HAVE THEM IN HOSPITALS, IN INDUSTRY, SO EVERYONE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS CURRENTLY LIMITED TO FEW FACILITIES IN THE WORLD.

TED: LAST QUESTION, I WANT TO KNOW, IS THERE A NEXT STEP?

IS THERE A SECOND VERSION OF THIS?

>> RIGHT.

WE ACHIEVED OUR FIRST MILESTONE, WE PRODUCED THE X-RAYS.

NOW WE WANT TO MAKE THEM INTO LASER-LIKE BEAM OF X-RAYS, WHICH WILL OPEN UP MORE APPLICATIONS FOR US.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE WITH THE HELP OF COLLABORATORS, WITH THE HELP OF ASU, WITH THE HELP OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WE WANT TO GET THERE TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNG SCIENTISTS, TO PLACE THE CRITICAL INSTRUMENTATION IN PLACE TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.

TED: WOW, ARVINDER SANDHU, ASU CXFEL.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS AND SHARING THE STORY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK TO REPORT.

TED: WE MAY HAVE YOU BACK, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.