On the latest episode of Health Futures: Taking Stock in You, host Bob Roth welcomed Todd Larson of HonorHealth for a powerful conversation about his journey from Scottsdale police officer to healthcare innovator, and how technology and community partnerships are transforming the future of caregiving.
🎧 For the full episode, CLICK HERE
Defining Care Through Service
At Cypress HomeCare Solutions, we know that true caregiving goes beyond medicine. Larson’s story illustrates this perfectly. After serving in the military, he joined the Scottsdale Police Department in the early 1990s, where he quickly realized that much of policing is about health, responding to behavioral health crises, supporting older adults with dementia, and stepping in during moments of deep vulnerability.
“The best officers were the best caregivers,” Larson reflected. Those lessons stayed with him as he transitioned into healthcare leadership.
The Family Advocacy Center Model
Larson helped pioneer the Family Advocacy Center in Scottsdale, where law enforcement, forensic nurses, counselors, and community partners work side by side. This multidisciplinary approach means victims of trauma receive medical care, crisis intervention, and investigative support all in one place. That collaboration later connected Larson to HonorHealth and inspired his work in community health.
Innovation Rooted in Community
Today, Larson leads HonorHealth’s Innovation Lab, a partnership with CDW and supported by the HonorHealth Foundation. The lab focuses on three goals:
Patient-centered care that increasingly happens in the home.
Workforce efficiency so caregivers can do more without burning out.
Collaboration across technology, healthcare, and community partners.
One of the lab’s test environments, a “smart home room”, features a smart bed, chair, fridge, stove, and even a smart toilet. These devices track patterns like medication use, nutrition, and hydration, giving families peace of mind while helping clinicians intervene early.
Technology That Transforms, Not Just Transacts
Larson explained how ambient technology, tools that capture notes and vitals in the background, can shift healthcare from transactional to transformational. Instead of typing into a computer, nurses can keep eye contact, hold a patient’s hand, and focus on connection while the system records their care.
For families, predictive monitoring can flag risks like increased nighttime bathroom visits (a sign of possible UTI) or skipped meals. As Bob Roth noted, this ability to “predict and protect” keeps older adults safer at home and reduces unnecessary hospital visits.
A Shared Mission
At Cypress, we share Larson’s vision: healthcare should keep people healthier, safer, and more comfortable at home. By combining compassionate caregiving with innovative technology, we can meet the challenges of a rapidly aging population and create a more sustainable system of care.
📌 Learn More
Explore HonorHealth’s community programs and innovation initiatives at HonorHealth.com.
Discover how Cypress HomeCare Solutions supports families at CypressHomeCare.com or call us at (602) 755-9584.
🎧 Catch the full episode of Health Futures: Taking Stock in You at CypressHomeCare.com/media/radio-show.
📝 This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult with professionals regarding your individual needs.
