Letter to the Editor

The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number: Letter to the Editor

Woodbury resident Thomas St Martin discusses health care.

Whether paid directly by patients or by some third party entity (an insurance company, a government agency, etc.), American health care providers are typically paid on a fee-for-service basis (i.e. on a discrete/piecework basis: tests given, office visits, devices provided, etc.). This method of payment, it is claimed, fails to hold providers accountable for the outcomes of the services or goods provided. Thus, some (perhaps many) individual services—when evaluated in terms of the results achieved—may be found to be ineffective, wasteful, perhaps even harmful. More to the point, the “fee for service” method of payment, based as it is on medical inputs (as opposed to outputs) encourages medical providers to order unnecessary tests, to …

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Woodbury’s Top Doc?

Meet Dr. Paula Kelly, a pediatrician at the HealthEast Woodbury Clinic at Woodwinds Health Campus.

Those Mpls/St. Paul Magazine lists on top doctors? Been there, done that. Dr. Paula Kelly—a pediatrician with the HealthEast Woodbury Clinic at Woodwinds Health Campus—has been named to the magazine's annual list every year the magazine has done it. “Hopefully it’s a little more than a popularity contest,” Kelly said. She didn’t seem to put much stock in the annual awards, but a friend once said that she would probably rather be on the list than off it. “Well, of course,” said Kelly, who has worked at the Woodbury clinic since it opened about 12 years ago. Growing up, Kelly said her father made education a top priority, and hailed the medical profession as something that could be an “esteemed and rewarding career.” “He really gave me the …

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Woodbury Invites Residents to Take Health Survey

The online survey is meant to determine residents' knowledge of health services available in Woodbury, and find out what people would like to see in the city.

The city is trying to find out how much you know about available health care services in Woodbury, and what you think the city needs on that front. The city on Wednesday announced that it is conducting a survey as part of the Woodbury HealthCore. People can take the survey online. This survey is meant to help the Woodbury HealthCore “identify the health care needs of the Woodbury community while providing information to both community members and the health care providers in Woodbury and the surrounding communities,” reads a notice from the city’s InTouch system. “The Woodbury HealthCore was developed by the city of Woodbury to bring health care and medical businesses of Woodbury together and help them stay, grow and thrive in Woodbury,” …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Lohmer Lauds Legislature's Work on Health Care

A letter to the editor from Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R-Lake Elmo).

Minnesota is nationally recognized as a leader in health care and human services delivery. I am proud to say that the Legislature recently moved to build on our nation-leading programs and create an even more patient-centered, cost-efficient heath system—which, after all, is a recognized and consensus goal. This year we built a base of support for recipients and providers of state programs. We enhanced Medical Assistance for Employed People with Disabilities, allowing people over the age of 65 to keep their jobs, assets, and integrity. We provided more funding and resources for those who face homelessness or are diagnosed with autism, and we’ve localized emergency services to maximize under-utilized resources in under-serviced areas. As …

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Bachmann Beat: Former Campaign Manager Speaks Out

A daily roundup of news and commentary about U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Sixth-district congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is in Iowa again today, where she's been touring factories to promote conservative economic policies. MPR and The Star Tribune have the latest news from the campaign trail. During a campaign stop in her hometown of Waterloo, Bachmann gave a rough outline of her approach to national health care policy: eliminating employer-based health insurance and creating a national insurance market. Bachmann's former campaign manager, Ed Rollins, offered some surprisingly candid—some would say "harsh"—thoughts on her odds of winning the GOP nomination.  In an interview on MSNBC, Rollins said it's all over for Bachmann unless she wins Iowa. Here's the quote: "She doesn't have the …

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Edward

10:35 am on Wednesday, September 21, 2011

I want to add that NOT ONE spokesperson from the beef industry has come out to endorse Bachmann's call for less regulation vis a vis bacteria testing. NOT ONE. Why? Read my post below. These guys are working with regulators to make the system better. They WANT a safe product, and they want to regain the confidence of the consumer. A safe product is good business. The recalls and illnesses are …   more ›

Letter to the Editor

Rep. Lohmer Outlines Health Care Reforms

The Republican House member, who represents parts of Woodbury, says the policy changes were “done with care to maintain the integrity of the whole system.”

Health care is a topic of importance to families, businesses, and policymakers in Minnesota and across the nation. It has implications both personal and policy-wise, and often becomes a target of political debate.  The bottom line, however, is that health care is about people—the patients and providers who make Minnesota a national leader in health care.  During the 2011 legislative session, I was privileged to serve on the Health and Human Services (HHS) committee and engage this crucial policy matter.  The HHS legislation played a central role in the final budget agreement, with the governor, commissioners legislators coming together to craft a positive budget in a challenging situation. It was a key part of our budget that controls …

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Paul

9:39 pm on Tuesday, September 13, 2011

I wish Mrs. Lohmer luck too. I just hope she has the interests of all her constituents in mind, and not just the Tea Party. Have you been to her website lately? .....lots of Tea Party links and imagery on it. I mean, come on - check these gems out - http://www.kathylohmer.com/links.html   more ›

ChiroWay

Researching Children’s Health Through Observation

The current trend in the health industry is to study and research the "nonentity."

It’s finally happening. Our country is realizing that you need to study health—not just disease or sickness. Diane Schetka, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, notes in her online column that research is currently taking place on woman who are pregnant or may become pregnant to follow the lifestyle of healthy habits that infants and children are benefiting from. This study has been compared to the Framingham Study, which was the largest study on cardiovascular disease. Will this current research change its angle and study health instead of disease for infants and children?  In his book, Enhance Your Life Experience, Joe Strauss, D.C., says that health and disease are two polar opposites; very similar to light and darkness. Health would be the …

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