Would a bi-county health department really improve our community health?
According to a study released by the Robert Wood Johnson foundation, we're already at or near the top third. County health rankings place Lehigh and Northampton County at #19 and #26, respectively, of the state's 67 counties.
You can view snapshots on Northampton and Lehigh County's community health, here and here.
Incidentally, 12% of the Lehigh Valley's adults are uninsured.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
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Thursday, March 04, 2010
34 comments:
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ReplyDeleteIPP, by all means, post your comments there.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't break it down by cities. How would the Slate Belt fare by itself?
ReplyDeleteRon doesnt want it so I know where you stand.
ReplyDeleteShort answer, NO!
ReplyDeleteBernie- Interesting study. Maybe I'm reading it differently, but it sure looks to me like Northampton County is pretty unhealthy. 59th in morbidity! Out of 67 counties! That statistic alone tells us we need a better approach to health.
ReplyDeleteIf you read the entire study, you'll realize that this document makes a very compelling case for public health. Thanks for bringing it to the attention of so many, Bernie. Good blog! It should generate some great discussions
ReplyDeleteA Health Department is a job Creator and a way to shift money to the unemployable. It will improve no ones health and will be a multi-million dollar a year white elephant for the counties.
ReplyDeleteThese studies are put forward by advocates to get their hands in your pockets. how else will they fund all the new bureaucratic jobs they want to create.
"Ron doesnt want it so I know where you stand."
ReplyDeleteActually, I support the idea of a health department and would advocate a bi-county plan that calls for no infusion of county tax dollars for the next three years.
A. NO
ReplyDeleteThis is the biggest hoax being foisted on the people since the Iraq War. Stoffa has poor Ross Marcus spending all his time on this turkey. Is it any wonder the Human Services Department is in the middle of a massive cash deficit.
ReplyDeleteEnough with this turkey time to say no thanks!
Anon- 11:44- Public health...a hoax? Have you read the research? Do you realize the benefits? They are not "inventing" something in NC, they are trying to apply the best and most cost effective approach to health that we know. Would you rather continue to pay for health after you're sick or prevent a lot of it from happening.
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:03- We're going to knock a health dept because it creates jobs? Unemployable? Do you understand that most public health workers are bachelor and masters prepared?
I have no problem with people opposing a health dept, but please base your arguments something that has some factual support:
FACTS: We are an unhealthy community. Public health is the most cost effective way to address many health issues. It will not cost a lot of money to implement and run (especially when you compare it to what it costs for a couple of visits to the ER or hospital) It will help us in the event of an emergency. Every major health researcher that I've read (for example, check out the Institute of Medicine's report on Public Health) indictes prevention is the way to improve health and reduce healthcare costs.
Does anyone want to debate those issues?
You make a compelling case. My concern is that for the next few years, bioth counties are facing major tax hikes. precious real estate tax dollars should not be used for this now, not until the economy recovers. I think hospitals need to kick in the cash to help make this work.
ReplyDeleteDespite what Anonymous 7:02 says, it will cost us money. If the counties want any of per capita money in Harrisburg that the board keeps saying they are entitled to, they must have matching funds. That means if you want the 3.6 mil, you have to come up with 3.6 mil. And there is no guarantee that you will get grants or backers to help in getting that money.
ReplyDeleteAs for creating jobs, far from it. Most health departments throughout the country have been downsizing their departments because of budget issues. This link is another report put out by the RWJF besides the counties one.
http://healthyamericans.org/report/61/shortchanging09
and click on the link to the right -complete report
And as for the argument about a county HD will make us healthier- take a look at Erie and Allegany's numbers. Both have county health departments- Erie ranks 30 and Allegany at 49. And Philly with their city health department is dead last at 67. They did warn though that you need to take the report with a grain of salt and not bank everything on it.
Here is a more recent link to the one I sent earlier.
ReplyDeletehttp://healthyamericans.org/report/74/federal-spending-2010
Pip- I never said it would not cost ANY money, just said it won't cost a lot of money. Lots of things count as match for the $3.6M. I agree with Bernie- hospitals need to step up, the two cities that don't want cuts in services need to step up, but the Counties need to step up also. If the hospitals and other community entities don't step up, neither should the Counties. But the Counties can't expect to get off with no investment.
ReplyDeleteRegarding jobs- Please, make a logical argument here. I respect your right to express your opinion, but you can't make the "argument" that because other health depts are reducing staff due to budget cuts, creating a regional health dept won't create dozens of new jobs. That's an absurd argument. Of course a regional health dept will create new jobs. Since the economy has tanked, I have yet to see an economic workforce idea in the LV that will put more people back to work AND have a positive impact on our overall health. Stimulating our economy by investing in health (as in wellness, not health care for the sick) and education are great short term and long term strategies.
Ditto for your argument that a health dept won't improve health because Erie, Alegheny and Philly's numbers are worse than Lehigh Valley's. Illogical argument. I'd hate too see what those communities would look like if they didn't have a health dept. Do you think they would be the same or even healthier without a health dept?
Northampton County- 59th in morbidity? That number says it all!
Anon 12:03 below is the link to my logical argument on job creation -by the way not my opinion but someone else's facts. Read the entire report- especially pages 11-12 and the chart on pg 9 that shows 27 states have decreased their budgets toward public health. You can not pay people if you don't have the money.
ReplyDeletehttp://healthyamericans.org/report/74/federal-spending-2010
And if this is such a great job maker, why has the state and the cities not fully replaced those that have retired or left? And if they do replace them, they are replaced with part timers. Or they simply just do away with the job and give the vaccant person's responsiblity to someone else. Plus if this thing does go thru and they combine the 2 city health departments, they can't keep 2 of everything-directors, doctors, heads of nursing, etc... are they going to keep someone on who is now assigned to inspect resturants, but pay them a director's salary and benefits?
I am not against having a local presence when it comes to public health- the more you know your community the better. I am in agreement with Bernie - show me the money but not my money.
Other than prisons, everyone has had to cut back on staff due to budget cuts...schools, human service agencies, etc. That does not mean these services are not needed and effective.
ReplyDeletePlease acknowledge the obvious... if you increase the amount of ph funding, you are going to create jobs! Once you acknowledge that, now you can use the rwj report to support your theory that we will not be able to sustain the jobs we have created. Although I don't agree with that theory, you can make a logical argument. Just don't try to make the argument that a regional health department won't be able to use all of the current staff in Bethlehem and Allentown and still need to hire dozens more.
Yes - IF you incease funding- which is exactly what the finality of the report is - you MIGHT create jobs. But then again, that increase funding would also off set increases in health spending - ex.- increase cost of vaccine manufactoring, costs of new machines that look for breast cancer, giving families vouchers to buy fresh produce etc... You have to see what would be the best investment for a community - a salary for one person, or that salary used instead for 100 free mamograms for those with no insurance...
ReplyDeleteHa Ha
ReplyDeleteYou can't even answer a simple question with respect to consistency, can you?
No wonder you were disbarred!
Pip- Thanks. You are making my argument so much stronger...invest in cost effective ways to reduce morbidity and prevent illness or invest in expensive health care. We've invested a lot in health care (highest per capita on health care in the world, but poor health outcomes). It's time to invest in prevention.
ReplyDeleteBTW, is there really someone in the LV who can't get a mammogram? If so, that's a real public health issue. We ought to do soemthing about that.
OMG!!!! Is PippySqueek using the Trust for America's Health report to make a case AGAINST public health in the Lehigh Valley?
ReplyDeleteThis report, which was just released this month is all about why we need more public health in PA.
That's like using the Bible to make a case against Christianity.
2:56- I'm not disagreeing with you- when our economy is stronger, I'm all for it, but until then, this may not be the time.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, there are many people out there who cannot get basic preventive care and/or continuation care because they "fall thru the cracks"-too poor for insurance and too rich for state assistance. That is why we need to look into establishing more organizations that increase Community health to the people with a side of public health.
Pip- I agree with the fact that there are people who can't get good primary care. Both large community hospitals are stepping up (as they should)to address this. Community based organizations like the Neighborhood Health Community Health Center are making affordable primary care available to the un- and under-insured. If we allow all of this public health momentum (and all of the financial support from community partners, including money from the local foundations) to die because the County doesn't want to put up a minimal amount of funding, it will be decades before we get back to this place again.
ReplyDeleteWe can't afford NOT to do this now! It'll cost the Counties a lot more to do this without the partners.
I stand behind my original words. If the cost isn't shared by all those who benefit (hospitals, cities)and if it's not a managable price tag for the Counties, they have every right to say "NO".
3:35- I guess then the jist of this discussion is we will have to just wait for the "put up or shut up" moment and go from there.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are absolutely correct on this one. Thanks for the discussion!
ReplyDeleteBernie- I hope you were taking notes.
Bottom line is after this thing is created ONLY the Counties are on the hook for the costs. Of course the hospitals and some groups will throw in some up front "chump change" to get this thing going then it will be "see you later".
ReplyDeleteThis thing will be rigged to look like expenses are covered. The problem is it is a form of welfare healthcare. It will draw even more welfare recipients.
There is absolutely no reason to believe our collective health would be better with a health Department. just more bureaucracy. As far as a job creator, excuse me! Go start a business and create all the jobs you want. enough with the taxpayer funded jobs. Christ people, they are taking away benefits from existing County employees and you want to latch on to more tits?
Buy a clue and get a real job!
Wow 8:43. Switch to decaf! You're making a health dept sound like an Oliver Stone movie. This isn't a conspiracy. It is the most researched, studied, evidence based way to improve health. Do you know anyone who has become rich in the field of public health? Do you think doctors, lawyers and big hospitals are lining up to cash in?
ReplyDeleteStop makign people afraid of this. It's not a gov't takeover. It's not healthcare for the poor. It's not socialism. It's something that will benefit us all.
Save the drama for the movies.
The only reason this thing is being pushed is because the cities can no longer afford their health bureaus and they want to shove the problem on to someone else and a certain hospital is tired of taking care of the poor, cause when you are for-profit, you can't make money if you have to give it away all the time.
ReplyDelete8:10- The martians are coming. The martians are coming. Run for your lives.
ReplyDelete7:07 -
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that the vast majority of people will get nothing from this boondoggle. Like most government efforts outside of security and transportation, all pay so a minority can benefit. That's why there are so many government programs, each promising something to a different few. Since everyone is getting something, they should all be willing to pay for the next one, direct benefit or not, right?
Anon 7:07, save the BS for the public. You are right Doctors, lawyers and Hospitals won't do this because it doesn't pay them enough. But it does pay for a new crop of public employees with lifetime benefits, healthcare and recession proof public sector jobs. int eh $20,000-50,000 range.
ReplyDeleteSo again save the we just want to save the world bullshit for people who haven't seen your slick way of fleecing the public pulled off before.
Ever since RENEWLV opposed proper investment in Route 22, I am skeptical of ANYTHING they propose. It is hard to view the smart growthers as credible when the stated reason they feel they are stake holders in Route 22 is their quest to divert funding to Rail.
ReplyDeleteStatistics? RENEWLV ignores the statistics on Route 22. Why should we take them serious when they value a freakin bike path more than a human life.
An oped does not change reality.