Central Michigan University

• More prevention today for better health tomorrow

Topics in this story: College of Health Professions, Health, News tips and sources

As the Obama administration discusses health care reform, health professionals must advocate for a stronger emphasis on prevention programs, a response that could ultimately save the country hundreds of billions of dollars annually -- and have a greater impact on the overall health of our country's residents. Central Michigan University community health professor Mark Minelli is available to comment on these evolving efforts.

A few of Minelli's initial thoughts on the subject:

• "We need a public health model that educates an entire community, a strategy that coordinates all public resources to work together on health promotion and disease prevention."
• "A few obvious contributors that bring on ill health: tobacco products, poor diet and physical inactivity, and abuse of alcohol and drugs. We need to put a halt to these lifestyle choices. Prevention programs offer a healthy start."
• "Levels of prevention should include the following:
  1) Primary: health education before diseases begin
  2) Secondary: mass screenings to catch the disease process early on
  3) Tertiary: re-education and rehabilitation to treat the problem if the first two strategies fail"
• "These bold new outlooks require commitments on both an individual and a community level. We also need support from our health care leaders."

Minelli specializes in a number of areas in community health including prevention and treatment, and healthcare management.

To set up an interview with this expert, contact: Tracy Burton, 989-774-1072, tracy.burton@cmich.edu