Chronic disease is expensiveLearn about the Value of Prevention

The new health care law makes available funding for disease prevention. The question still remains, however, how those funds will be distributed.

Definition and Prevention Strategies The New York State Department of Health is an excellent resource for learning about chronic disease, how to define it, what it means to our state, and how to help prevent chronic disease.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene offers prevention and control programs to help reduce the burden on chronic disease on City residents. They also provided physical activity and nutrition guidelines as resources to those fighting our most aggressive chronic disease - obesity. The Harvard School of Public Health takes a global look at chronic disease and prevention strategies.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention offers current information on public health research, practice and policy aimed at improving community health, including a preventing chronic disease dialogue.

We've all heard the warnings about stress and health. There is now evidence that stress is a contributing factor in chronic disease. Eliminating stress is a key prevention strategy.

The National Conference of State Legislatures has compiled a chart of smoking cessation benefits in state employee health programs.

The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) has a useful and compelling links page, designed to help New Yorkers stay healthy and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

The New York State Department of Health has a helpful Diabetes Prevention and Management Toolkit. And the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene features a Diabetes Action Toolkit that is a must-see for patients.

Public Health Initiatives

Smoking can lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which can be treated but damage to lung tissue cannot be reversed. Go to New York State Smoker's Quit Line for help kicking the habit.

The Adirondack Medical Home Project, geared toward correcting financial inequities suffered by rural healthcare providers, seeks to revolutionize the medical care model. Learn more about this pilot project and its success in Northern New York.

The US Department of Health and Human Services seeks to eliminate barriers to care for high-risk diabetes patients through their Patient Navigator Project. The CDC has even researched the use of black radio to disseminate health information in an attempt to eliminate health disparities.

The Council of State Governments sponsors a website on state health policies which includes resources and publications on 20 population health topics. One publication seeks to educate the Hispanic population in the prevention of chronic illness.

The New York Chapter of the American College of Physicians has a useful site detailing their initiatives designed to improve patient outcomes

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's healthy living resource. There is also the New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance which seeks to educate on chronic disease prevention. Disease prevention starts early. Give children the tools that will keep them healthy. Adapting the Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Intervention for Delivery in the Community: The YMCA model.

Best Practices

Here are some stories about what is working in the fight against chronic disease.

Prevention resources for specific chronic diseases

     Diabetes

     Diabetes Informacion en Espanol

     Mesothelioma

     Lupus