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Using Community Surveys to Identify Health and Access Disparities in New York City

Award Amount: $221,110
Approval Date: November 11, 2003
Start Date: January 1, 2004
End Date: December 31, 2004
Fund for the City of New York
125 Worth Street
New York, New York 10032
Principal Investigator: Farzad Mostashari, M.D., M.S.P.H

In 2002 and 2003, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene collected data on residents' health behaviors, health conditions, and service use through their annual Community Health Surveys. The surveys, which allow comparison of results across 32 neighborhoods, help city officials establish more effective public health policies and programs while supporting the decision-making of private organizations concerned about health disparities. Through two small grants, the Fund supported production of a chartbook on health disparities from the 2002 survey, as well as the addition of questions on health care access to the 2003 survey. This new project will disseminate findings from the 2003 survey by producing two additional chartbooks, one on access to care and coverage and a second on women's health. Project staff also will supplement the 2004 survey by including questions about New Yorkers' access to primary care services and producing a third chartbook describing primary care access across New York's neighborhoods and racial/ethnic groups. Survey findings will help the Fund as it adds a new area of focus to the Health Care in New York City program. Findings also will aid city officials as they develop programs for underserved communities. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will provide cofunding.