Health Department Forms Folder 0065, 1999-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Staten Island to follow.

J) Lead Poisoning Prevention

In 1994, the Department was facing growing numbers of lead poisoning cases. Providers had just been mandated to screen all appropriate children and to report all blood lead levels for anyone tested for lead. The Department has been collecting all screening information and tracking all cases of childhood lead poisoning through its expanded registry to ensure that risk is abated and a child with elevated blood level is properly treated. The number of new lead poisoning cases Citywide reported and confirmed declined 53 percent from FY95 to Fiscal 1999.

K) Public Health Media Campaigns

The Department has mounted a record number of English-Spanish public education transit campaigns featuring a wide variety of its programs and services. Campaigns included the serial HIV prevention"Decision" series (featuring Julio and Marisol), chlamydia prevention; the asthma initiative; the Poison Center; dog licensing promotion; the women's health line, which features information about maternity and children's health; immunization promotion; and teen pregnancy prevention.

L) Bioterrorism and Emergency Response

New York City, recognizing its vulnerability to bioterrorism and the increasing threat of emerging pathogens, initiated a surveillance system for unusual pathogens. In cooperation with federal, State and City agencies, an emergency response plan was developed and regularly tested. This plan was instrumental is quickly combating the West Nile-like virus outbreak in New York City this Fall. In the span of a few weeks, the City quickly reduced the mosquito population with the aerial and ground application of insecticides. A toll-free Health Information Hotline - established to answer questions from the public about the outbreak and the City's activities - answered more than 140,000 calls, making it the busiest hotline ever established by the City.

M) Transfer of Clinics to HHC

In 1994, the Department transferred Communicare, Child Health, Dental Clinics and Correctional Health to the Health and Hospitals Corporation as a means to streamline primary care services and expedite clinical services for managed care. Since the transfer, additional Communicare sites have opened, several Child Health and Oral Health facilities have been renovated and Child Health and Communicare have contracts with managed care organizations. Since then, the Department has worked closely with HHC to ensure the delivery of comprehensive and coordinated public health and clinical services.

N). School Health Expansion

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