I was disappointed and discouraged to read Mike Bromelkamp’s article in Wednesday’s Albert Lea Tribune, titled “Time is overdue for public health reform.” Certainly reform is needed in most of our personal, community, business and governmental lives. A huge mischaracterization of “public health” is contained in the piece. Mr. Bromelkamp’s glaring error is to confuse health care with public health programs and policies. Perhaps there is also a confusion between lives saved and dollars saved.

Public health policy and programs are prevention-centered and have benefited all of us in the USA and have global impact. Eradication of small pox, virtual elimination of polio, clean water, fire safety, immunizations for other communicable diseases, food security, traffic rules, nets for malaria, blood banking safety, warning labels on tobacco, infant and maternal nutrition — all, and many more, are public health successes. I believe that Mr. Bromelkamp, a CPA business partner and spokesperson for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and its health policy committee, would know that the huge cost of acute and chronic medical care is increasing. We should all be interested in more bang for the buck. True public health measures save lives and dollars.

We can be proud of the Albert Lea and Freeborn County interest in public health. The Children’s Center was opened in 1969. It became clear that many children were not immunized. Immunization clinics were started by Drs. Ted Myers and Lowell Barr and supported by Freeborn County Public Health Nurse Sylvia Blom. The state of Minnesota provided the vaccines and the clinics were free for everyone, child and adult alike. In the 1970s, Freeborn County was commended by the state Department of Health for the highest percentage of immunizations among children entering school.

Similarly, local physicians were instrumental in recognizing the need for chemical dependency treatment. Drug abuse and alcohol addiction are related to increased illness, absenteeism, domestic dysfunction and incarceration, all high cost issues. The Fountain Centers, begun in the ’70s, is now a division of the Albert Lea Medical Center. The Fountain Centers has a public health function recognized far beyond our state for its excellence. The importance of the Blue Zones initiative captured national attention. We are blessed to have a Victim’s Crisis Center, SEMCAC and Senior Resources, the Salvation Army, the Family Y, HealthReach, and a large faith community that understand the value of a broad approach to health. Our public safety officers are dedicated to prevention of crime and are part of our health conscious  community.

There is no doubt that my contribution to the health of my patients has been minuscule compared to the public health measures we take for granted.

Thorn F. Thompson

medical doctor

Albert Lea