Written by Larry Sobal, CEO, Appleton Cardiology Associates

My last column was a tongue-in-cheek letter to Obama expressing my thoughts on health reform. I've been writing Post-Crescent columns since 2003 and none had ever generated the volume of responses or magnitude of emotions as that one. I clearly hit a sensitive nerve.

In Green Bay last week the president emphasized his views on reform with a focus on the uninsured, increasing information access, moderating costs, etc. I agree with much of what he said but want to propose a simpler, albeit radical, alternative: What if people actually started taking better care of themselves?

Think about it. What if Americans listened to their doctors, exercised, ate healthier and stopped smoking? What would that mean for our health care system? I think this would change our ranking among industrialized nations to first in health status and last in health spending instead of the opposite.

I've based this reform plan on a few simple facts. First, studies estimate that 3 percent of Americans actually practice healthy living to begin with. That means few actually exercise at least three times a week for 20 minutes, eat recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, limit highly processed and fatty foods, maintain recommended body weights and don't smoke.

Second, it is estimated that less than 10 percent don't see their primary care physician at least once per year and partake in recommended screenings such as pap smears, prostate checks, etc. This is despite the fact that many health plans offer those services at 100 percent coverage as incentive to do so.

Third, it is well documented that there is a close linkage between lifestyle choices and chronic disease. Chronic diseases account for more than 60 percent of medical care expenditures and seven of 10 deaths each year. Obesity, tobacco use and diabetes alone are estimated to consume $350 billion of health care resources each year.

I could go on, but have hopefully introduced the notion that our nation's health are could be dramatically transformed if individuals took responsibility for their own health and took the actions to be as healthy as they can be.

What would this reform actually mean? The biggest winners in a healthier society would obviously be patients and employers. A healthier population means greater productivity and lower costs — both a boost to our overall economy.

But not everyone wins. Hospitals would see a large drop in admissions for upper respiratory problems, heart attacks and strokes. The looming shortage of primary care physicians would be exacerbated as their offices are overwhelmed with healthy people coming for their routine physicals. Specialists would have lots of idle time and need to find other ways to pay the bills. Social Security and Medicare would go bankrupt as people routinely lived longer.

Go ahead, tell me I'm nuts. But imagine for a minute every adult taking responsibility and making it happen. If you want to get started, I suggest a five-step personal reform plan.

1. Treat your doctor like a partner. Go regularly and come prepared to ask questions.

2. Double your motivation. Put health goals in writing. Engage your family for support and assistance.

3. Make wellness a daily activity. Walk more, drive less. Manage your stress. Follow the new food pyramid. Exercise your brain.

4. Know your health risks. Follow those recommended guidelines and know your personal health measures versus recommended levels.

5. Watch your wallet. Learn about health costs, such as generic prescriptions. Learn which providers consistently deliver quality results.

As the politicians and scholars debate and plan on what will work and what won't, let's fix this mess on our own — one self-accountable healthy person at a time.