1) Use the annotation structure to characterize two organizations related to your topic…
A) Asthma Coalition of the Capital Region
The Asthma Coalition of the Capital Region is one of several offices found throughout NYS that aim to assist various organizations in helping treat and prevent asthma. While I have been unable to find a distinct title for the type of organization they are, they can be described as a hybrid governmental organization, non-profit, and volunteering center.
The Asthma coalition holds various educational programs and intervention programs in communities where asthma is most prevalent. All of the various coalitions in the state will also convene every year, giving summaries on their progress and gaining new ideas that can be implemented in their own area. One of their big areas of interest is the areas lack of urgent care facilities (UCF’s) in the capital region.
Don’t really understand the question. *
I think that they have a unique approach in the way that they try to involve local stakeholders and community leaders and make them care about the issue. I think this is much more effective then trying to regulate at a higher level. In this way, it seems like the ideas are coming from within the group, as opposed to some higher authority.
I have not been able to find anything just yet pertaining to this. The group is fairly small, but it does a good job of outlining the “asthma situation” in Albany (something close to what we are doing). I’m sure whatever information they have they would be willing to share, but we would need to ask for it.
The group really relies on air quality reports from the DEC, asthma reports from the county and state DOH, and other government publications. I do have one presentation from their most recent trip to the meeting of all the coalitions and it appears that more than 75% of their info comes from these types of publications.
It appears that they stick more closely to in person education, pamphlets, and other types of grass roots movements. I have been having some difficulty finding their website online and that’s something that needs to be worked on. Having a functioning, interactive website is a necessity in today’s world.
Similar to what we do, I think they believe that they are the gatherer of information and disseminator of knowledge. That seems to be what they primarily do and I’m not sure if they are looking to expand their role or not.
One of their primary drivers is the fact that there are only 1-3 UCF’s in the entire capital region and for a populace like the city of Albany, this is unacceptable. For many people without or with poor health insurance, going to the ED for an asthma attack will put a real strain on their financial situation. The number of ED visits due to asthma related causes is quite large for Albany and the lack of UCF’s is a primary cause.
Their main source of funding is governmental grants that are awarded for various reasons. In 2012, the coalition received a $900,000 grant to help fund new programs.
Not enough information available to answer. *
The lack of intra-governmental interaction. The coalition is supposed to help bridge the DEC, DOH, and various other groups, but the size of these groups makes it difficult to get everyone working towards one common goal.
More grassroots movement type of governance. Poorer communities are generally weaker politically, yet are hit harder by asthma and poor environmental health conditions. They need people who believe in them to stand up and make a difference.
To me it appears that we are very much on the same page and that the best way we could help each other would be to provide information that they can readily use. They are not a large organization, but carry a lot of responsibility within the community. Much of what we produce could be used right away by their offices.
B) NYS DEC
The NYS DEC is responsible for protecting and conserving natural resources within New York State. This encompasses monitoring air quality, which is very important when it comes to describing the enviro-health governance Albany.
In addition to monitoring air quality, they also issue pollution permits and provide educational clinics/forums on various issues. With over 3,000 employees, they manage these programs all over the state.
Don’t really understand. *
Not that I have noticed. Like most governmental agencies, they are somewhat bound in what they can use their funding for. To me, this limits the amount of originality they will exercise in their programs.
Every air quality summary since they have started monitoring it in the area is readily available online. This, has been put to use by various groups, including the Asthma Coalition and the Asthma Files.
I have been unable to find anything concerned with this online. Perhaps an interview would reveal more.
Their website is quite comprehensive and very easy to use. Beyond that, they don’t seem to do anything special.
In the grand scheme of things, they are as close to the top of environmental issues as you can get in NYS (probably tied with the EPA). Since they are so high up in this social hierarchy, they seem to fund more work than actually conducting it themselves, making them the boss.
Certainly events like Hurricane Irene and finding PCBs in the Hudson has changed how they view environmental health issues. Both of these events established a firm link between human health and the environment.
They are a state agency and are funded through tax dollars. However, their goal is to do what is in the best interest of the environment and protect both the people from the environment and vice versa.
Similar to question 9, Hurricane Irene and PCBs in the Hudson.
Would need to hold an interview to find out more.
That a powerful state government with regional branches is the best way to make sure everyone is working towards a common goal.
Find out exactly how the DEC interacts with various groups and see if it is optimal for this type of system.
2) Find three events worthy of inclusion on a timeline about your city’s history…
A) Albany begins monitoring PM2.5 (January 1, 1999)
Albany began measuring PM2.5 at its air monitoring station, in nearby Loudonville, in 1999. PM2.5, or particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers, can be very dangerous to human health, as the small particles can enter the lungs and cause respiratory issues. Generally speaking, the more information available on air quality, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone etc., the better. This data can be readily used to correlate possible environmental triggers with hospitalization rates, emergency department visits, and other asthma related statistics. The data collected at the air monitoring station is easily found online and provides a way of comparing air quality across various cities.
B) Formation of St. Peter’s Health Group (October 1, 2011)
On October 1, 2011, St Peter’s Health Care Services, Seton Health, and Northeast Health Inc., merged to form St Peter’s Health Partners. The merger created one of the largest private employers in the capital district, with over 12,000 employees at 125 locations. St Peter’s Health Partners has a budget of more than $1 billion. The merger was spurred by the recession of 2008 and $200,000 grant was given under the 2009 Economic Recovery RFP.
While Albany Medical Center is still the most comprehensive hospital in the greater capital region, this merger opened a door for increased cooperation between several hospitals and other facilities in the area. In my interview with the director of the Capital Region Asthma Coalition, she mentioned that there were ongoing plans within St Peter’s Health Partners system to create some sort of program (could be educational, preventive care, or post-care) dealing with asthma. However, she did not seem to know a lot about it and an interview with someone more knowledgeable should definitely provide some new information.
C) Passing of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (March 23, 2010)
When it comes to issues involved with asthma treatment, health care costs continue to be at or near the top of the list. Most people don’t know that asthma can be a life long disease and that even when symptoms are not exhibited they should still be taking their controller medicine. To someone who lives on minimum wage salary, paying for medicine when they or their children are not showing any symptoms is not always possible.
The Affordable Care Act, which passed in March of 2010, aims to increase the number of people who are covered by health insurance. Since it is generally the poorer portions of the population that do not have health insurance and therefore more likely to not be able to afford medication or emergency department/urgent care facilities in the event of an asthma attack, it would be interesting to see if there are any correlations between the passing of the ACA and decreased asthma attacks, decreased ED visits etc. I would expect the results to be found all over the US, not just in Albany, and would be an interesting bridge between all of the different cities.
A) Asthma Coalition of the Capital Region
- The Asthma Coalition of the Capital Region is one of several offices found throughout NYS that aim to assist various organizations in helping treat and prevent asthma. While I have been unable to find a distinct title for the type of organization they are, they can be described as a hybrid governmental organization, non-profit, and volunteering center.
- The Asthma coalition holds various educational programs and intervention programs in communities where asthma is most prevalent. All of the various coalitions in the state will also convene every year, giving summaries on their progress and gaining new ideas that can be implemented in their own area. One of their big areas of interest is the areas lack of urgent care facilities (UCF’s) in the capital region.
- Don’t really understand the question. *
- I think that they have a unique approach in the way that they try to involve local stakeholders and community leaders and make them care about the issue. I think this is much more effective then trying to regulate at a higher level. In this way, it seems like the ideas are coming from within the group, as opposed to some higher authority.
- I have not been able to find anything just yet pertaining to this. The group is fairly small, but it does a good job of outlining the “asthma situation” in Albany (something close to what we are doing). I’m sure whatever information they have they would be willing to share, but we would need to ask for it.
- The group really relies on air quality reports from the DEC, asthma reports from the county and state DOH, and other government publications. I do have one presentation from their most recent trip to the meeting of all the coalitions and it appears that more than 75% of their info comes from these types of publications.
- It appears that they stick more closely to in person education, pamphlets, and other types of grass roots movements. I have been having some difficulty finding their website online and that’s something that needs to be worked on. Having a functioning, interactive website is a necessity in today’s world.
- Similar to what we do, I think they believe that they are the gatherer of information and disseminator of knowledge. That seems to be what they primarily do and I’m not sure if they are looking to expand their role or not.
- One of their primary drivers is the fact that there are only 1-3 UCF’s in the entire capital region and for a populace like the city of Albany, this is unacceptable. For many people without or with poor health insurance, going to the ED for an asthma attack will put a real strain on their financial situation. The number of ED visits due to asthma related causes is quite large for Albany and the lack of UCF’s is a primary cause.
- Their main source of funding is governmental grants that are awarded for various reasons. In 2012, the coalition received a $900,000 grant to help fund new programs.
- Not enough information available to answer. *
- The lack of intra-governmental interaction. The coalition is supposed to help bridge the DEC, DOH, and various other groups, but the size of these groups makes it difficult to get everyone working towards one common goal.
- More grassroots movement type of governance. Poorer communities are generally weaker politically, yet are hit harder by asthma and poor environmental health conditions. They need people who believe in them to stand up and make a difference.
- To me it appears that we are very much on the same page and that the best way we could help each other would be to provide information that they can readily use. They are not a large organization, but carry a lot of responsibility within the community. Much of what we produce could be used right away by their offices.
B) NYS DEC- The NYS DEC is responsible for protecting and conserving natural resources within New York State. This encompasses monitoring air quality, which is very important when it comes to describing the enviro-health governance Albany.
- In addition to monitoring air quality, they also issue pollution permits and provide educational clinics/forums on various issues. With over 3,000 employees, they manage these programs all over the state.
- Don’t really understand. *
- Not that I have noticed. Like most governmental agencies, they are somewhat bound in what they can use their funding for. To me, this limits the amount of originality they will exercise in their programs.
- Every air quality summary since they have started monitoring it in the area is readily available online. This, has been put to use by various groups, including the Asthma Coalition and the Asthma Files.
- I have been unable to find anything concerned with this online. Perhaps an interview would reveal more.
- Their website is quite comprehensive and very easy to use. Beyond that, they don’t seem to do anything special.
- In the grand scheme of things, they are as close to the top of environmental issues as you can get in NYS (probably tied with the EPA). Since they are so high up in this social hierarchy, they seem to fund more work than actually conducting it themselves, making them the boss.
- Certainly events like Hurricane Irene and finding PCBs in the Hudson has changed how they view environmental health issues. Both of these events established a firm link between human health and the environment.
- They are a state agency and are funded through tax dollars. However, their goal is to do what is in the best interest of the environment and protect both the people from the environment and vice versa.
- Similar to question 9, Hurricane Irene and PCBs in the Hudson.
- Would need to hold an interview to find out more.
- That a powerful state government with regional branches is the best way to make sure everyone is working towards a common goal.
- Find out exactly how the DEC interacts with various groups and see if it is optimal for this type of system.
2) Find three events worthy of inclusion on a timeline about your city’s history…A) Albany begins monitoring PM2.5 (January 1, 1999)
Albany began measuring PM2.5 at its air monitoring station, in nearby Loudonville, in 1999. PM2.5, or particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers, can be very dangerous to human health, as the small particles can enter the lungs and cause respiratory issues. Generally speaking, the more information available on air quality, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone etc., the better. This data can be readily used to correlate possible environmental triggers with hospitalization rates, emergency department visits, and other asthma related statistics. The data collected at the air monitoring station is easily found online and provides a way of comparing air quality across various cities.
B) Formation of St. Peter’s Health Group (October 1, 2011)
On October 1, 2011, St Peter’s Health Care Services, Seton Health, and Northeast Health Inc., merged to form St Peter’s Health Partners. The merger created one of the largest private employers in the capital district, with over 12,000 employees at 125 locations. St Peter’s Health Partners has a budget of more than $1 billion. The merger was spurred by the recession of 2008 and $200,000 grant was given under the 2009 Economic Recovery RFP.
While Albany Medical Center is still the most comprehensive hospital in the greater capital region, this merger opened a door for increased cooperation between several hospitals and other facilities in the area. In my interview with the director of the Capital Region Asthma Coalition, she mentioned that there were ongoing plans within St Peter’s Health Partners system to create some sort of program (could be educational, preventive care, or post-care) dealing with asthma. However, she did not seem to know a lot about it and an interview with someone more knowledgeable should definitely provide some new information.
C) Passing of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (March 23, 2010)
When it comes to issues involved with asthma treatment, health care costs continue to be at or near the top of the list. Most people don’t know that asthma can be a life long disease and that even when symptoms are not exhibited they should still be taking their controller medicine. To someone who lives on minimum wage salary, paying for medicine when they or their children are not showing any symptoms is not always possible.
The Affordable Care Act, which passed in March of 2010, aims to increase the number of people who are covered by health insurance. Since it is generally the poorer portions of the population that do not have health insurance and therefore more likely to not be able to afford medication or emergency department/urgent care facilities in the event of an asthma attack, it would be interesting to see if there are any correlations between the passing of the ACA and decreased asthma attacks, decreased ED visits etc. I would expect the results to be found all over the US, not just in Albany, and would be an interesting bridge between all of the different cities.