There are few functions in the healthcare industry as critical as the role played by public health professionals. The work done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments is essential…and under-appreciated.
However, I spent much of today scratching my head at the priorities of the CDC in dealing with public health emergencies. Chronic diseases are the single biggest health threat in America. Preventable, chronic disease is also the single biggest cost to the healthcare system. Fix the chronic disease problem and healthcare financial reform becomes almost irrelevant.
Unfortunately, the CDC isn’t focusing on chronic disease. The CDC is focusing on epidemic disease outbreaks like H1N1. Don’t get me wrong, H1N1 is a serious public health issue. However, it is not the ONLY public health issue, which seems to be how the CDC is acting these days.
So while 440,000 Americans die from smoking-related deaths every year, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden of the CDC is spending his time focusing on the less than 100 deaths from H1N1. This is a guy that did amazing things in New York City to enact smoking bans and promoting public health. So did he just get blinded by the celebrity status of his political appointment from President Barack Obama?
I’m not trying to be too critical of Dr. Fieden. I’m sure he’s a decent human being. However, when you have President Barack Obama serving as the Smoker in Chief, you have to wonder if political pressure is playing a role in the CDC’s lack of focus on tobacco and anti-smoking initiatives. It seems to be the only logical explanation.
This whole issue really hit home for me today with the results of a new Institute of Medicine report on second-hand smoking. The IOM found that in communities where smoking bans are enacted, there is an immediate and sustained reduction in heart attacks – in BOTH smokers and non-smokers. This is a tremendous finding and should bolster support for more smoking bans across the country. I’m thrilled that the IOM had the courage to complete this study in the current political environment.
This is an area calling out for CDC leadership – and leadership from Dr. Thomas Frieden. It’s my sincere hope that Dr. Frieden will remember his roots and take a more aggressive approach in fighting chronic disease in America.
Reference: Institute of Medicine
