Off the Record

The Heart of New Ulm

The good folks at Allina are launching a new program, “The Heart of New Ulm,” that aims to eliminate heart attacks in New Ulm. It is an ambitious program which will use the New Ulm Medical Center’s electronic records system to identify patients that have a risk of heart disease, ensure they receive the proper care in time to lower that risk, and track their care. It will also use public education to promote healthy diets and exercise in preventing heart disease.

It is a noble effort, and I applaud it. But it reminds me a bit of a cartoon I saw once in “New Yorker” magazine. An executive is sitting at his desk, looking down at a day planner, one of those little calendar/datebook organizers that really efficient people love so well. “It’s not doing anything,” he says.

People in New Ulm are the executive, and “The Heart of New Ulm” is the day planner. The benefits derived from the program will depend on what you put into it. A day planner works when you write your appointments, tasks and goals in it, and really use it to organize your day and your priorities. If you don’t use it, it just takes up space on your desk.

That’s going to determine how successful “The Heart of New Ulm” will be. If people are motivated to change their eating habits, lose some weight, start walking or jogging and quit smoking, it will help cut down on heart attacks. If they don’t use it, the Big One will still be waiting around the corner.

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