DOH Releases State Health Plan

The Department of Health (DOH) has compiled and released the District’s first State Health Plan in nearly two decades. The plan, “Addressing the District of Columbia’s Health Priorities,” is a blueprint for ensuring accountability and integrity, coordinating public-private partnerships, and developing ongoing results-oriented activities to improve the health of residents.

The plan gives a six-point roadmap to improving the health of the residents of the nation’s capital with an emphasis on critical areas, such as health disparities, health coverage for the uninsured, establishing citywide standards for health data collection and instituting a process for effectively managing activities and measuring the District’s progress.

”The District of Columbia’s highest priority is to serve all of our customers, and that includes protecting the health of our residents,” said Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor. “This State Health Plan is a major first step in providing the necessary guidance to ensure that we tackle health issues, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart disease and others.”

Highlights of the plan call for improving partnership efforts with schools to provide health education and promotion activities to improve prevention of leading health concerns. The plan also calls for efforts to expand health coverage and establish citywide standards for the collection and reporting of health data.

“This health plan reflects our growing commitment to accountability,” said Carlos Cano, MD, DOH Interim Director. “We must ensure that every dollar spent on health services is used in the most effective way possible to help us improve the actual health and well being of every District resident.”

The report cites 2004 data listing the District’s ten leading causes of death per 100,000 as: heart disease (228); cancer (198); hypertension (57); HIV/AIDS (39); accidents (38); cardiovascular disease (34); diabetes (33); homicide (31); chronic lower respiratory disease (25) and influenza -pneumonia (24). The plan outlines measurable targets to evaluate the city’s progress in improving the health status of DC residents.

“It’s important to remember that, like the health needs of our population, this plan is not static but will rather continue to evolve,” added Dr. Cano. “The Department of Health looks forward to collaborating with other sectors of government as well as our community partners to regularly evaluate and update its ambitious goals and to achieve a healthier District of Columbia.”

To view the District of Columbia’s State Health Plan, click here.