Health Department Biweekly Reports Folder 0066, 2000-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Honorable Rudolph W. Giuliani -2- March 1, 2001

In addition to the "Quit Yet" campaign, the Department conducts a wide array of outreach initiatives that stress smoking cessation and prevention to the diverse elements of New York City's smoking and nonsmoking populations. These initiatives represent a broad-based, comprehensive effort involving health care providers, local policy makers, wbrksites, community-based organizations, educators, parents, as well as children to reduce tobacco use and its impact on the health and economic well-being of New Yorkers. Th

EMERGING ITEMS

Monitoring of AIDS/HIV Service Provider Contracts The agency is preparing a response to the State Comptroller's draft audit report, issued on Fe rua in ings anu recommendations cover the following areas: developing monitoring plans and site visit forms tailored for each contract; ensuring that all required observations and site visits take place; clarifying contractor performance standards; placement of contractors on corrective action plans when appropriate; ensuring that contractor reports fully report on the accomplishment of contract goals; documenting review of site visits and of contractor reports. i

NOTEWORTHY ITEMS

Cycolspora Cluster The Department is investigating a cl er of cyclos oriasis among New York City residents. Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic nfection that causes diarrheal illness. Past outbreaks in 1996 and 1997 in New ork City were linked to a multistate outbreak associated with contaminated raspberries from Guatemala. Since January 2001, there have been 3 cases of cyclosporiasis occurring among residents of Manhattan. The Communicable Disease Program is conducting an epidemiologic investigation to determine if there is a common source of exposure. In addition, the program has conducted active outreach to all parasitology laboratories in the city to ascertain any additional cases and has sent an alert to all NYC hospitals to enhance awareness among clinicians of the need to consider testing for cyclosporiasis among patients with diarrheal illness. As a similar outbreak is occurring in Florida, the Department is working closely with the CDC and Florida DOH to determine if these clusters are related.

Effectiveness of DOH's AIDS Hotline The City Comptroller has initiated an audit of the AIDS Hotline. The period audited will be from FY 2000 to the present. The audit objective is to determine whether the Hotline has complied with the Citywide Customer Service Initiative to limit hold time to two minutes, and whether the Hotline provides accurate and useful telephone information and referral services. Auditors will begin their survey phase during the week of February 26.

National Condom Week

NYC-WTC 000138105