The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-07-29
Drastic Revamping of Public Health
Department Badly Needed


goes in the Montana Department of Public Health
Why this vital division of state considered
by the most inefficient of all state agencies? Why
high turnover in personne-not only among employees bu
executives well?
These many other questions come up recent
years. and following thorough study the department by
the American Public Health Association Duck Report steps
taken by the 31st Legislative Assembly to correct the sit
uaon by the setting up of new board of health This new
board took office July and from the information we have
hand the seven people appointed by Governor Bonner fac
ed with supendous task public health is to anything
more than expression in Montana.
But the Report very magnitude of
the recommendations made indicative of what hasn't
done by the department. words would
indicate that the department without head that the
various phases public health work have
ing empoye eationsthere uniformity of pay similar
work between division and another and the morale
bottom to top is low This has resulted according Merit
Council report issued in May, in this department having
personnel turnover high 647 per single year
the last fiscal year to be exact.
Having noted the implications the above it becomes
understandable why Monanas death rate ranks
we'll when compared with the other AT states For example
1947 deaths due to all found Montana ranking almost
higher than the nation whole
infant mortality 25 higher than the national average
deaths from pneumonia were almost O above averages
polio 100 nonrespratory syphilis
goo and alcoholism l45 per cent higher With only of %
diseases listed as causes OF DEATH did Montana equal rank
below the national On typhoid and meningitis
on respiratory and on live diseases OF less fatal Incidence
the tally showed No deaths from scarlet reported
compared to Oh 100000 the nation over whoopng
cough LIZ Montanans 100000 died compared with
national of Ia GA deaths from dpthera report
ed compared with O6 nationality or from dysenary
pared with from pregnancy as compared
with 3.5 per 600 nationally.
Yet, while most major of DEATH Montana had
higher than the other AT states reports that
thousands of dollars of U.S. Public Health funds
being returned to the federal being
need for such to improve public health Montana
For example, last between $1,000 and $4,000
turned to the federal which had been aocaed
purposes of the hospital division Since
great elasticity federal regulations regarding the transfer
unused federal public health funds from branch
other of state public health the threadwo
frequently that funds available
health little substance light the returning
such monies each year AS example, funds
TB venerea diseases be switched with whenever
county health units doing related work.
The above only few of the related items which
brought about the deporab situation concerning the status
public health administration and operation in Montana 9th
will be discussed in subsequent issues of the VOICE One
hing does clear AS the board of health
opportunity to fully acquant itself with the manifold prob
besettng this it should strive quail
led director for the department who only has imagination
md ambition but who thoroughly with the
many of effective public health work. Until such
such chosen head up the department.
here little likelihood Of correcting and improving the
tion which has existed for all too many years
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