The Health Department’s Primary Care Information Project (PCIP) announced the launch of a new program to help primary-care physicians combat preventable health problems. Under the so-called Panel Management program, outreach specialists will work with physicians to identify patients in need of preventive health services such as cholesterol management or blood pressure control, and encourage them to make appointments for care and treatment. PCIP has equipped more than 1,700 New York City medical practices with electronic health records that highlight patients’ health risks before they cause acute conditions such as heart attack or stroke.
New Yorkers born in 2007 can expect to live an average of 79.4 years – a gain of 5 months since 2006 and the longest average life expectancy ever recorded in New York City. Life expectancy has shot up by a year and 7 months since 2001, exceeding national gains, and has now reached 82 years for women and 76.3 years for men. The Health Department announced the new findings in its Annual Summary of Vital Statistics.
The National Salt Reduction Initiative, a New York City-led partnership of cities, states and national health organizations, unveiled its proposed targets to guide a voluntary reduction of salt levels in packaged and restaurant foods. Americans consume roughly twice the recommended limit of salt each day – causing widespread high blood pressure and placing millions at risk of heart attack and stroke – in ways that they cannot control on their own. Only 11% of the sodium in Americans’ diets comes from their own saltshakers; nearly 80% is added to foods before they are sold. Through a year of technical consultation with food industry leaders, the National Salt Reduction Initiative has developed specific targets to help companies reduce the salt levels in 61 categories of packaged food and 25 classes of restaurant food. Some popular products already meet these targets – a clear indication that food companies can substantially lower sodium levels while still offering foods that consumers enjoy.