The ‘new day’ in local health care

Curtis Dickson calls it a “new day in public health.”

Linn County's new director of Linn County Public Health has been busy making and proposing changes and being visible in the community during his seven months on the job.

Whether all of his plans are realized and eventually achieve the ultimate goals - healthier residents and better cost control - is hard to predict.

But give Dickson credit for stirring the pot and drawing attention to the big picture.

He says Linn County Public Health, known for its air quality/environmental programs, must focus more on public health services. He's re-established the deputy health director's position, hiring Stephanie Neff, former director of Healthy Linn Care Network.

Also under Dickson, look for a strong effort to bring most or all health care providers and agencies in the county under a “coordinating council.” He believes this umbrella could better integrate the county's health care systems - reducing duplication, shoring up gaps in access - and find more resources for prevention.

The case for prevention is gaining local and national attention. Only 2 to 3 percent of public health resources are devoted to prevention programs, even though more than 70 percent of all health care costs are caused by chronic diseases that often stem from unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, smoking and/or obesity.

Convincing people to change their behavior for the better is difficult and often controversial, especially if government mandates are involved. Dickson seems more than willing to step into the fray.

Noting that the FDA's recent takeover of tobacco regulation opened a door, he wants the county board of health to consider a ban on tobacco advertising at the point of sale, as well as prohibiting tobacco sales in pharmacies.

Linn County Public Health has a $4 million annual budget and 50 employees; 70 percent of the budget comes from private and public grants.

Dickson figures that consolidating health

programs under the coordinating council also would enhance the

ability to land more grants.

Significantly, Dickson was a guest at last Monday's meeting of the Cedar Rapids Healthcare Alliance - dozens of doctors, hospital officials and others looking for ways to reduce health care costs and improve quality in a city recently cited by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement for beating the national standard in both areas. The Alliance, it appears, realizes status quo isn't good enough.

A new day is dawning in this nation's health care. No one is sure what it will bring. We're glad to see that Dickson and the Alliance aren't counting on Congress to fix everything that needs fixing.