1. Programmatic impact of 5 years of mortality surveillance of New York City homeless populations.
- Author
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Gambatese M, Marder D, Begier E, Gutkovich A, Mos R, Griffin A, Zimmerman R, and Madsen A
- Subjects
- Alcoholism mortality, Drug Overdose mortality, Health Status, Humans, Hypothermia mortality, Infant, Infant Mortality trends, Mortality, Premature, New York City epidemiology, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Ill-Housed Persons statistics & numerical data, Mortality trends, Sentinel Surveillance
- Abstract
A homeless mortality surveillance system identifies emerging trends in the health of the homeless population and provides this information to key stakeholders in a timely and ongoing manner to effect evidence-based, programmatic change. We describe the first 5 years of the New York City homeless mortality surveillance system and, for the first time in peer-reviewed literature, illustrate the impact of key elements of sustained surveillance (i.e., timely dissemination of aggregate mortality data and real-time sharing of information on individual homeless decedents) on the programs of New York City's Department of Homeless Services. These key elements had a positive impact on the department's programs that target sleep-related infant deaths and hypothermia, drug overdose, and alcohol-related deaths among homeless persons.
- Published
- 2013
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