Introduction
- Discuss New Jersey State health initiatives and their relationship to the DHHS National Prevention Strategy and Healthy People 2020.
List the state-mandated reportable communicable diseases.
Discuss the status of measles cases in the state with accompanying epidemiologic data.
Discuss the status of pertussis cases in the state with accompanying epidemiologic data.
Explain the Organizational structure of the state’s official public health agency.
Present an overview of the state’s immunization program to include discussion of IIS (Immunization Information System).
Conclusion Summary
- Post of a summary of the paper to the Discussion Board in Blackboard with response to at least 2 other students and a 5 minute in-class presentation.
Abstract
This report outlines specific details relating New Jersey State initiatives pertaining to National Prevention Strategy and Healthy People 2020; state-mandated reportable communicable diseases and the status of measles cases and pertussis in the state. Further discussions regarding the public health organizational structure and it relevance to delivery of health promotion policies will be undertaken. Finally an overview of the state’s immunization program will be reviewed.
Introduction
Discuss New Jersey State health initiatives and their relationship to the DHHS National Prevention Strategy and Healthy People 2020
The New Jersey Health Initiative (NJHI) is linked to a statewide grantmaking program organized by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This program itself is funded from a grant dispersed by the Rutgers Institute of Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research. Essentially, this initiative supports health care advancement related to service delivery, improvement quality and accessibility to health care in New Jersey. It also undergirds leadership expertise expansion through grantmaking in the state (New Jersey Initiative, 2013).
There are diverse health care needs in the New Jersey, which ought to me addressed at different levels. As such, New Jersey Health Initiative strives to collaborate with community and regional leaders in improving health care services. Importantly, NJHI expertise influences delivery systems by enhancing ‘provider arrangements and financing mechanisms’ (New Jersey Initiative, 2013, p. 1). Precisely, New Jersey Health Initiative‘s (NJHI) mission aligns with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation by focusing on a high quality health care for all New Jersey inhabitants (New Jersey Initiative, 2013).
Significantly, this mission coincides with the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) National Prevention Strategy and Healthy People 2020 initiatives. Their strategy emphasizes prevention and control of tobacco consumption; chronic conditions such as obesity, viral hepatitis, diabetes and hypertension; health care associated infections; racial and ethnic disparities in health care within the state of New Jersey; HIV/AIDS and illicit drug consumption. Also, from the perspective of health related to social well-being of the population New Jersey Health Initiative (NJHI) collaborates with the Department of Health and Human Services to promote Healthy People 2020 strategies embracing the Public health system, Finance and Quality Program; National Prevention Strategy Initiatives; Let’s Move Campaign; President’s Food Safety Group Interventions; Global Health Initiative; National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy and the Health and Human Services (HHS) Environmental Justice Program (Healthy People.gov, 2013).
With a more distinctive impact New Jersey Health Initiative Responsive Grantmaking incorporates Healthy People 2020 strategies by establishing four goal priorities. They are 1) ‘To assure access to quality health care at reasonable cost; 2) To improve the quality of care and support for people with chronic health conditions; 3) To promote healthy communities and lifestyles; and 4) To reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse—tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs’ (Rutgers, 2013, p 1).
Consequently to be eligible for Grantmaking funding projects must be aligned with these goals. For example, the focus must be either 1) Addiction Prevention & Treatment; 2) Childhood Obesity; or 3) Vulnerable Populations, which are the three major interest of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation contribution to improving health care quality in New Jersey ( Rutgers, 2013).
Significantly, Responsive Grantmaking; Strategic Grantmaking and Health Management and Leadership Program are the three major efforts New Jersey Health Initiative have used directly in aligning their deliberations to the DHHS National Prevention Strategy and Healthy People 2020.Apart from the impact directly into health care services arena the unique forces is education and financial management training among health care organization leaders, which appears to be lacking ( Rutgers, 2013).
New Jersey Health Initiative has observed that by developing a network of leaders collaborating an expense of health disciplines and organizations this could promote major improvements in the execution of regional and statewide health policy. It is believed that healthcare leaders networking interactions strengthen the overall power of the organization in deliver its initiatives more efficiently (Rutgers, 2013).
List the state-mandated reportable communicable diseases.
Reportable directly to New Jersey Department of Health
- Hepatitis C, acute and chronic, newly diagnosed cases only (Written report within 24 hours)
- HIV/AIDS; Child exposed to HIV perinatally 609-984-5940 or 973-648-7500,Written report within 24 hours)
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases chancroid; chlamydia, including neonatal Conjunctivitis, Gonorrhea; Granuloma inguinale; Lymphogranuloma venereum and Syphilis, all stages and congenital (609-826-4869 Report within 24 hours
- Tuberculosis (confirmed or suspect cases) (609-826-4878 Written report within 24 hours)’ ( New Jersey Administrative Code Title 8, Chapters 57 and 58, 2013).
Reportable within 24 hours of diagnosis to local department of health
‘Amoebiasis; Animal bites treated for rabies; Arboviral diseases; Babesiosis; ‘
‘Campylobacteriosis; Cholera; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; Cryptosporidiosis; Cyclosporiasis; Diarrheal disease (child in a day care center or a foodhandler);Ehrlichiosis; Escherichia coli, shiga toxin producing strains (STEC) only; Giardiasis ;Hansen’s disease; Hemolytic uremic syndrome, post-diarrhea Hepatitis B, including newly diagnosed acute, perinatal and chronic infections, and pregnant women who have tested positive for Hep B surface antigen; Influenza-associated pediatric mortality; Legionellosis; Listeriosis; Lyme disease; Malaria; Mumps; Psittacosis; Q fever Rocky Mountain spotted fever; Rubella, congenital syndrome; Salmonellosis; Shigellosis Staphylococcus aureus, with intermediate level resistance (VISA) or high-level resistance (VRSA) to vancomycin only Streptococcal disease’ (New Jersey Administrative Code Title 8, Chapters 57 and 58, 2013).
Reporting of Confirmed or Suspect cases by telephone immediately to be local health department
‘Anthrax; Botulism; Brucellosis; Diphtheria; Foodborne intoxications (including, but not limited to, ciguatera, paralytic shellfish poisoning, scombroid, or mushroom poisoning); Haemophilus influenzae, invasive disease; Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome; Hepatitis A, acute
Influenza, novel strains only; Measles; Meningococcal invasive disease; Outbreak or suspected outbreak of illness, including, but not limited to, foodborne, waterborne or nosocomial disease or a suspected act of bioterrorism; Pertussis; Plague; Poliomyelitis; Rabies (human illness);Rubella; SARS-CoV disease (SARS); Smallpox; Tularemia;Viral hemorrhagic fevers (including, but
not limited to, Ebola, Lassa, and Marburg viruses) and H5697’ (New Jersey Administrative Code Title 8, Chapters 57 and 58, 2013).
Discuss the status of measles cases in the state with
Accompanying epidemiologic data.
On March 14th, 2013 New Jersey Public Health Department issued a measles alert relating that they identified a third person suspected of having measles. This person was suspected to have exposed a number of people at Somerset Medical Center tom the virus, Subsequently, it was believed that the public and several locations in Somerset County were also exposed during March 6 and 12, 2013. This report of the suspected case was made on Friday of preceding week and has later been confirmed (State of New Jersey Department of Health, 2013).
Studies show where during1990 and 1991, 60% of all measles-related deaths in New Jersey occurred in HIV-infected children. Supporting studies pertaining to children hospitalized with measles in ‘Kinshasa, Zaire, found similar rates of pneumonia, diarrhea, and death after measles in HlV-seronegative and-seropositive young children’ (Orenstein et.al, 2004, p189). Further studies reveal that infants born to mothers after 1963 are more susceptible to measles than are infants of older mothers. Importantly, there is an increased incidence of infants born in the United States inclusive of New Jersey who may be more susceptible to contracting measles. The recommendation is that high risk infants must be vaccinated between o -12 months old as a prophylactic intervention (Papania et, al, 1999). Presently, with an effective vaccination program it can be verity that since the March 14th, 2013 t alert there has been no more reported cases, which indicates that measles is controlled in New Jersey.
Discuss the status of pertussis cases in the New Jersey
With accompanying epidemiologic data.
In 2012 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that there has been an increase in pertussis cases nationwide, especially, in New Jersey. At the time of reporting here were 24,900 pertussis cases for 2012, which marked the hugest outbreak within 50 years; in comparison to when there were a total of 10,179 reported cases. New Jersey showed a marked increase from 312 cases in 2011 to 432 in 2012. It is a significant increase since figures show where in 205 there were just 192 cases. This is a vaccine preventable disease and New Jersey Department of health has stepped up its vaccination program to ensure that children receive the vaccine responsible for prevention the disease (Center for Disease Control, 2012).
Explain the Organizational structure of the state’s official public health agency.
New Jersey Official public health agency organizational structure is unique in that it differs significantly from the other 49 states in United States of America. Essentially, the municipal government is responsible for local public health services in New Jersey. State statutory provisions are insidious in the execution of these services. As such, there is a diversity of 112 local health departments extending over the State’s 566 municipalities. They include ‘municipal health departments, regional health commissions and county health departments. Five hundred and twenty (520) municipalities participate in shared services arrangement for local public health services. The remaining 46 municipalities, many of which are large cities, have stand-alone municipal health departments’ (New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, 2007, p. 10).
Present an overview of the state’s immunization program to include discussion of IIS (Immunization Information System).
The Immunization Program in New Jersey is also known as the vaccine preventable disease (VPD) program. It encompasses vaccine for children program (VFC); New Jersey Immunization Information System; perinatal Hepatitis B prevention project and Epidemiology and Surveillance. The vaccine for children program (VFC) began in 1994 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The program is federal funded providing free pediatric vaccines to doctors attending children with physical complaints. These children might miss vaccination due to lack of insurance coverage. Physicians are permitted to charge office visit and administration fees according to government fee schedule. Private providers account for most of the vaccination centers. They are about 1,000 medical offices enrolled (State of New Jersey Department of Health, 2013).
New Jersey Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program emphasizes screening of all pregnant women for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Mainly, identification of the virus in women provides opportunities for instituting prophylactic measures in the new born through completion of a hepatitis B series vaccine. This program also allows for serological testing after administration of a full vaccine course. Importantly, the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program (PHBPP) has been in operation for more than 20 years (State of New Jersey Department of Health, 2013).
This program is endorsed by ‘Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ (State of New Jersey Department of Health, 2013, p.1). As such, its success is highly dependent on support of health care professionals and providers of other disciplines across the state. They collaborate to keep mandatory guidelines. These agencies and providers include birthing hospitals; Obstetricians, family practice physicians pediatricians, local public health departments (LHD); commercial laboratories, as well and other health and social service agencies (State of New Jersey Department of Health, 2013).
Ultimately, the New Jersey Immunization Information System was established to facilitate the institution of mandatory immunization for children attending public schools and licensed day care centers. It consists of a record being maintained by schools on a state approved form (A45). In conjunction a secured electronic database was developed storing these records and those of other residents. Through this system similar to the electronic health record (EHR) device health care providers can access vaccination profiles of all New Jersey residents (State of New Jersey Department of Health, 2013).
Conclusion Summary
Post of a summary of the paper to the Discussion Board in Blackboard with response to at least 2 other students and a 5 minute in-class presentation.
This report outlined specific details relating New Jersey State initiatives pertaining to National Prevention Strategy and Healthy People 2020; state-mandated reportable communicable diseases and the status of measles cases and pertussis in the state. Further discussions regarding the public health organizational structure and it relevance to delivery of health promotion policies was undertaken. Finally an overview of the state’s immunization program was reviewed.
References
Centers for Disease Control (2012). Pertussis. CDC.gov
Healthy People.gov (2013). HHS Prevention Strategies. Retrieved on September 26th 2013 from
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/prevStrategies.aspx
New Jersey Administrative Code Title 8, Chapters 57 and 58 (2013). Retrieved on September
26th, 2013 from
http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/reportable_disease_magnet.pdf
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (2007). A Study of New Jersey’s
Local Public Health System. Retrieved on September 27th, 2013 from
http://nj.gov/dca/affiliates/luarcc/pdf/nj_locl_pub_hlth_study.pdf
New Jersey Health Initiative (2013). NJHI National Program Office. Retrieved on September
26th 2013 from http://www.njhi.org/ about-njhi
Orenstein, W. Perry, R., & Halsey, N. (2004). The Clinical Significance of Measles: A Review.
J Infect Dis, 89(1), S4- S16.
Papania M, Baughman, A. Lee, S. Cheek, J. Atkinson, W. Redd, S. Spitalny, K. Finelli, L., &
Markowitz L (1999). Increased susceptibility to measles in infants in the United States.
Pediatrics, 104(5),e59.
Rutgers (2013). New Jersey Health Imitative Program. Retrieved on September 26th 2013 from
http://www.ihhcpar.rutgers.edu/org_units/ default.asp?v=2&o=14
Related to New Suspect Case; DOH Urges Residents to Get Up-to-Date on Vaccinations
Retrieved on September 26th 2013 from
http://www.state.nj.us/health/news/2013/approved/20130314a.html
