Program Descriptions

New York Arthritis Program

Arthritis Burden in New York

New York State has an estimated 3.6 million adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis, or 24% of the adult population. Although arthritis affects people of all ages, it is more common among women and older adults. Approximately 1.4 million adults in New York State living with arthritis are aged 65 years or older. Non-Hispanic whites reported the highest (NYS) rates of doctor-diagnosed arthritis (28%), compared with non-Hispanic blacks (18%) and Hispanics (19%). On counties, but the numbers with arthritis are highest in urban counties.

Data Source: 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS).

Key Partners

• Arthritis Foundation, Northeast Chapter
• New York State Office for Aging and the statewide Aging Network
• University at Albany, Center for Excellence in Aging and Community Wellness
• P2 Collaborative of Western New York
• NYS Employee Assistance Program
• NYS Recreation and Parks Society
• NYS AIDS Institute
• EmblemHealth
• Disability and Health, Healthy Heart and Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs

Intervention and Partnership Highlights

• In 2012 - 2017, New York's efforts will focus on increasing the reach of Stanford University's Chronic Disease Self-Management Program and implementing and embedding Walk With Ease, an Arthritis Foundation physical activity intervention, to reach 50,000 New Yorkers living with arthritis and other chronic conditions.
• Since 2010, New York's extensive group of partners reached more than 5,000 participants with Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs across 347 host sites in 44 of 59 counties, with an almost 82% completion rate.
• A Quality and Technical Assistance Center (QTAC), housed at the University at Albany, serves as an innovations center for intervention training, quality assurance, and technical assistance across NYS. The QTAC's vibrant online learning community will be expanded to include a system that links a web-based data collection portal and an online registration mechanism for the efficient, real-time exchange of information. The QTAC is supported in part through the collaborative efforts of four NYS Department of Health chronic disease programs (Arthritis, Disability and Health, Diabetes and Heart Disease and Stroke).
• Health care providers are often unaware of community-based self-management and physical activity interventions that support the health and well-being of individuals. The arthritis program will create linkages to the health care system by raising awareness of the availability and benefits of these programs, and encouraging providers to recommend interventions to patients. Consistent referral sources will facilitate increased program availability, accessibility, and use.

Contact Information

Danielle M. MacFee, M.P.H., Arthritis Program Coordinator
New York State Department of Health
150 Broadway, Suite 350
Albany, NY 12204-0676
Telephone: 518.408.5132
E-mail: dmr17@health.state.ny.us
Website: http://www.nyhealth.gov

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