Dutchess County Releases Community Health Status Report

DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. – The annual Community Health Status Report, released earlier this week by the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health, shows a decline in death rates from chronic diseases but also an increasing challenge from heroin addiction.

Dr. Henry Kurban, Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health commissioner, has released the annual Community Health Status Report.
Photo Credit: *Dutchess County*

Jim Barg

06/04/2016 2:00 p.m.

The report takes a look at medical trends across the county, detailing where the county is strong and what physical and mental health issues should concern county residents.

“The Community Health Status Report shows Dutchess County making continued improvement in driving down the rates of death and hospitalization from chronic diseases, including heart disease, the nation’s No. 1 killer,” said DBCH Commissioner Henry Kurban in a statement.

“However, the report also shows the challenges we face with the heroin epidemic, with far too many lives being lost.”

The report offers expanded data on opioids and recent fatal and nonfatal overdoses, along with noting rising rates of sexually transmitted diseases and elevated rates of tick-borne illnesses compared with upstate areas.

Other, more positive news highlighted includes declines in the number of residents without health insurance, lower teen pregnancy rates and larger childhood lead testing rates.

The report can be accessed by clicking here, and for more information on the programs offered by DBCH, go online to www.dutchessny.gov.

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