Putnam Wins $55,000 Award To Fight Chronic Diseases

BREWSTER, NY- The Putnam County Department of Health has been awarded $55,000 to fight chronic diseases such as diabetes or obesity. The New York State Department of Health chose to focus the round of competitive funding on preventing these types of diseases because they have surpassed communicable diseases such as influenza as the leading cause of death and disability.

Chronic diseases develop over time, are considered incurable, and account for three-quarters of U.S. healthcare costs.

In Putnam County, diabetes, heart disease, some forms of cancer and dental disease are common chronic diseases, according to the PCDOH website. Currently, the county runs a program to help residents manage a chronic disease and oversees a multi-agency prevention initiative.

In competing for the grant money, nationally-accredited health departments, such as Putnam County’s, were at an advantage with an automatic $7,500 base payment.

An additional $5,000 went to all agencies who competed, due to the sheer work involved. The remaining funds were distributed to just 20 health departments, half of those who entered the competition, based on performance and county population. Putnam received an additional $42,500.

“Putnam residents can be reassured that our health department is among the best in the state with this award,” said County Executive MaryEllen Odell, “and our health department should be proud.”

Interim Health Commissioner Michael Nesheiwat, MD, thanked staff for their perseverance.

“I am delighted that our staff decided to put in the extra work to compete for these funds," he said. "It was not an easy task, but having achieved national accreditation in 2016 helped to ease the submission process. No doubt it also helped us think more strategically and strengthen our partnerships with community members.”

Extensive documentation was required for the competitive grant, explaining health department activities in seven key areas, such as engaging community partners. The evaluation process the State Health Department used was similar to the process for national accreditation formulated by PHAB, the Public Health Accreditation Board. This was done because national accreditation may become mandatory in the future.

The PCDOH received four perfect scores in the highest category and three near-perfect scores in the second highest one.

As with all performance-based awards, the funds must be used to support specified public health services. NYS-recommended activities include conducting campaigns to reduce chronic diseases, and to promote enhanced screening activities and follow-up care by individual providers. Funds may also be used for accreditation or reaccreditation fees.

The PCDOH will work with community partners involved in Putnam’s Community Health Improvement Plan to prioritize and develop ideas for the use of the funds.

Residents with ideas are encouraged to submit their own suggestions for prevention programs by mail to: Chronic Disease Prevention Programs, Health Education Unit, Putnam County Department of Health, 1 Geneva Road, Brewster, NY 10509, or by email to health@putnamcountyny.gov

Currently, to help residents with chronic diseases manage their health, a program is offered by the health department, in partnership with the Putnam County Office for Senior Resources, the Visiting Nurse Association of Hudson Valley, and Putnam Hospital Center. For information on the workshops, click here.

Also, the Live Healthy Putnam initiative, launched in 2007 by the PCDOH, is the umbrella program for chronic disease prevention in the county.

Initially formed to promote the voluntary ban on trans fats in Putnam County restaurants, the program has expanded and now embodies a 30-member coalition of community organizations interested and invested in promoting healthy lifestyles. The work of the coalition covers all levels including primary prevention. Improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and reducing tobacco use are some of the overall goals. For information about the Live Healthy Putnam Coalition, click here.

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