Public Health Detailing Action Kits

Detailing Action Kits contain clinical tools, resources for providers and patient education materials, promoting evidence-based best practices and chronic disease management. These materials are available for health care providers and their practices to help improve patient care related to key public health challenges. Clinical topics have been chosen largely because of their anticipated impact on morbidity and mortality. Click on the links below to view the contents of the Detailing Action Kits.

Public Health Detailing Action Kits reflect the latest scientific evidence and public health guidelines at the time of publication. However, guidelines and recommendations evolve frequently based on emerging evidence. Information and resources contained within the Action Kits may become outdated after publication.

Adult Immunization Action Kit (2003)

Vaccine-preventable diseases kill thousands of adults each year in New York City. Influenza and pneumonia together remain the third-leading cause of death. While immunizations are one of the most effective ways to reduce morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine coverage among adults in the City and across the United States remains low. Health care providers play a critical role in ensuring their patients are vaccinated. This toolkit offers evidence-based strategies and tools to improve adult vaccine coverage at the facility, practice and pharmacy level.

Download the Adult Immunization Action Kit

Alcohol Screening & Brief Intervention Action Kit (2007)

Alcohol-related problems are common in patients seen by primary care providers. Although most adults drink safely, some 25,000 New Yorkers are hospitalized for alcohol-related illness and injury each year, and more than 1,500 die. An estimated 15% of adult New Yorkers—nearly 900,000 people—report excessive drinking. Most of these individuals (about 70%) see a physician regularly. You and other primary care providers are uniquely positioned to intervene and help excessive drinkers cut down or stop using alcohol.

Download the Alcohol Screening & Brief Intervention Action Kit

Breastfeeding Action Kit (2009)

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of an infant's life has many short- and long-term health benefits for babies and mothers, including a reduction in infectious diseases and mortality during infancy, improved bonding, and maternal postpartum weight loss. Despite these benefits, relatively few women breastfeed for the recommended time period. In New York City, nearly 85% of postpartum women initiate breastfeeding, but at 2 months only 32% are still exclusively feeding their infant breast milk.

Download the Breastfeeding Action Kit

Buprenorphine Action Kit (2018)

Health care providers can play a central role in reversing the epidemic of opioid overdose deaths. The Health Department is conducting a public health detailing campaign consisting of one-to-one educational outreach visits with providers on prescribing buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder. During visits, Buprenorphine Action Kits are distributed that contain useful provider and patient resources. These resources are also available electronically below. We hope you will use the kit to help reduce drug use, prevent relapse and decrease the risk of opioid overdose among your patients.

Download the Buprenorphine Action Kit

Cholesterol Action Kit (2006)

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of preventable illness and death in New York City, causing more than 25,000 deaths and more than 130,000 hospitalizations each year. Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a major – but modifiable – risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, two-thirds of New Yorkers (approximately 400,000 people) who have atherosclerotic disease or diabetes have not met their LDL goal of <100 mg/dL.

Download the Cholesterol Action Kit

Cocaine Action Kit (2020)

Health care providers can play a central role in reversing the epidemic of drug overdose deaths. The Health Department is conducting a public health detailing campaign, consisting of one-to-one educational outreach visits with providers on the risks associated with cocaine use. During visits, Cocaine Action Kits are distributed that contain useful provider and patient resources. You can also access them electronically below. Use this kit to help reduce drug use, prevent relapse and decrease the risk of overdose among your patients.

Download the Cocaine Action Kit

Criminal Justice Action Kit (2021)

More than one in three adult New Yorkers have experienced one or more types of criminal justice involvement. Such involvement can include incarceration, parole and probation. Justice-involved people have a higher risk for chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, mental health conditions and diabetes.

Despite a need for quality health care, justice-involved people can face complex barriers to getting care, from financial burden to discrimination. You can foster an environment in which these people can regain agency over their health following their reentry into the community.

Download the Criminal Justice Action Kit

Depression Action Kit (2018)

According to recent estimates, more than half a million adults in New York City have depression and nearly 60 percent of these individuals do not receive treatment. Mental illness impacts New Yorkers of all ages, races, and ethnicities, but the distribution of mental illness varies greatly by income, with people living in poverty experiencing a disproportionate share of the burden. Depression can also contribute to and worsen the course of chronic disease. As a health care provider, you play a crucial role in helping your patients with depression. The clinical tools, provider resources, and patient education materials in this Depression Action Kit will support and amplify your efforts to help patients with depression.

Download the Depression Action Kit

Diabetes Action Kit (2017)

Since 2002, the prevalence of diabetes has increased by nearly 50 percent among New York City adults. Recent reports indicate that 740,000 New Yorkers have diabetes and an additional 1.3 million have prediabetes, with the burden of disease falling disproportionately on minority communities of color. Of those living with prediabetes, an estimated nine out of 10 people are unaware of their condition. As a health care provider, you play a crucial role in helping your patients prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. The clinical tools, provider resources, and patient education materials in this Diabetes Action Kit will support and amplify your efforts to help patients with prediabetes and diabetes.

Download the Diabetes Action Kit

Early Intervention Action Kit (2018)

One in four children under the age of 5 in the United States is at moderate or high risk of developmental delay. The NYC Early Intervention Program evaluates children from birth to age 3 who have suspected or confirmed developmental delays or disabilities. The program works with families to set meaningful goals for their child and create a plan to help them meet those goals.

Download the Early Intervention Action Kit

Health Insurance Action Kit (2023)

When New Yorkers have access to health insurance coverage, they get timely preventive care services and can better manage their chronic health conditions and improve their overall health. As a health care provider, you play a key role in linking your patients to health insurance, especially now, when access to health care services is crucial. This toolkit contains resources to help you and your patients understand and use our free health insurance enrollment services.

Download the Health Insurance Action Tool Kit

HPV Vaccine Action Kit (2017)

Each year in the U.S., 27,000 men and women get cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV vaccination is the most effective way to prevent these painful or deadly illnesses. HPV vaccine is recommended for boys and girls at 11-12 years of age, when HPV acquisition is low and the immune response to the vaccine is more robust. Unfortunately, New York City’s HPV vaccination rates fall dramatically short of the 2020 national goal of 80 percent three-dose coverage. Health care providers play a critical role in increasing HPV vaccination rates, and this toolkit offers helpful strategies and tools.

Download the HPV Vaccine Action Kit

Hypertension Action Kit (2017)

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke, which together account for more than 18,000 deaths in New York City. Local data suggest the rate of controlled blood pressure among patients diagnosed with hypertension is lowest among Black adults (59%), compared to White (73%), Asian (73%) and Latino adults (69%).* As a health care provider, you play a critical role in identifying hypertension, promoting self-management and supporting medication adherence to help your patients achieve blood pressure control.

*Among a subset of 300-400 New York City primary care practices that serve ~1,000,000 patients age 18-85 that had at least one visit for health care in the past year (2016). Blood pressure control is defined as <140/90 mmHg.

Download the Hypertension Action Kit

Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Kit (2007)

In 2006, New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) investigated 63,000 reports of child abuse and neglect. Reports often involve more than one child, so approximately 90,000 children come to the attention of ACS each year. During each investigation, ACS assesses a child’s safety and takes action, as necessary, to prevent child abuse and/or neglect.

Download the Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Kit

Immediate Initiation of Antiretroviral Treatment (iART) Action Kit (2021)

The recommended standard of HIV care in New York is to start antiretroviral treatment (ART) on the day of diagnosis, at the first clinic visit, or on the day that a client returns to care. The Immediate Initiation of Antiretroviral Treatment (iART) Action Kit includes provider and client resources. The kit is structured around these core HIV treatment practices:

  • Offering HIV testing to all clients at least once a year, and more frequently to clients who may benefit from testing every three to six months
  • Initiating ART as soon as possible, preferably on the same day of diagnosis
  • Performing genotype resistance testing on all clients with HIV, but not waiting for genotype testing results to initiate eligible clients on iART
  • Establishing an iART clinic workflow

Download the Immediate Initiation of Antiretroviral Treatment (iART) Action Kit

Intimate Partner Violence (2008)

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) refers to a pattern of physical, psychological, sexual and/or economic abuse by a current or former partner. Also known as domestic violence, IPV is a serious public health problem. Every year, approximately 4,000 women and 900 men are treated in NewYork City emergency rooms for IPV. Almost half (44%) of women killed in NYC each year are killed by their intimate partners. Aside from the risk of injury and death, IPV significantly increases the risk of other mental and physical health problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, stroke and asthma.

Download the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Latent Tuberculosis Infection Action Kit (2023)

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge because of global inequities in access to diagnosis and treatment. New York City’s rate of tuberculosis disease is more than twice as high as the U.S. national rate. Health inequities contribute to disparate rates of tuberculosis infection in NYC. New Yorkers who are born outside the U.S., non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic or Latino/a are most affected.

A previous study demonstrated that the majority of cases of tuberculosis disease in NYC were avoidable. Missed screening opportunities and failure to treat latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) frequently contribute to the progression to active tuberculosis disease. This toolkit contains provider and patient resources to help health care providers identify, test for and treat latent tuberculosis infection and prevent active tuberculosis disease.

Download the Latent Tuberculosis Infection Action Kit

Maternal Health Action Kit (2023)

There is an ongoing maternal health crisis in New York City, particularly among communities of color. Recent reports indicate that Black women were nine times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause and three times more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity than White women. Latina women also experienced severe maternal morbidity and pregnancy-related death at nearly twice the rate of White non-Latina women. These inequities persist due to structural racism that deny women of color the opportunity to pursue their optimal health across the life course — before, during and after pregnancy.

Download the Maternal Health Action Kit

Medication Adherence Action Kit (2009)

Almost 50% of Americans take at least one prescription drug. Only half of these patients take their medication correctly and many patients who receive drug prescriptions fail to fill them. Good medication adherence can prevent strokes, heart attacks, renal failure and other complications from poorly controlled diseases. Poor adherence, especially in patients with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, is associated with increased risk of hospitalization and death.

Download the Medication Adherence Action Kit

Naloxone for Pharmacists Action Kit (2018)

Pharmacists can play a central role in reversing the epidemic of opioid overdose deaths. Because of this, the Health Department is conducting a public health detailing campaign, consisting of office-to-office educational outreach visits with pharmacists on dispensing naloxone to at-risk patients and to their friends and family. During visits, Naloxone Action Kits are distributed that contain useful provider and patient resources, and are also available electronically. We hope you will use the kit to help decrease the risk of opioid overdose among your patients.

Download the Naloxone for Pharmacists Action Kit

Naloxone for Providers Action Kit (2018)

Health care providers can play a central role in reversing the epidemic of opioid overdose deaths. Because of this, the Health Department is conducting a public health detailing campaign, consisting of one-to-one educational outreach visits with providers on offering naloxone to at-risk patients and to their friends and family. During visits, Naloxone Action Kits are distributed that contain useful provider and patient resources, and are also available electronically below. We hope you will use the kit to help decrease the risk of opioid overdose among your patients.

Download the Naloxone for Providers Action Kit

Obesity Action Kit (2008)

Overweight and obesity are epidemic in New York City and across the country. About two thirds of the U.S. population are overweight or obese, including more than half (3,000,000) of the adults in NYC. Fortunately, obesity is preventable and as obesity rates decrease, so will chronic disease and associated mortality. In fact, even modest weight loss of 5%-7% (about 10 pounds) can improve health and decrease disease risk.

Download the Obesity-Action Kit

Opioid Analgesic Action Kit (2017)

The rate of opioid analgesic overdose deaths among New Yorkers increased by 65% between 2005 and 2011. More than one overdose death involving an opioid analgesic occurred every other day on average in New York City in 2011. Health care providers can play a central role in reversing the epidemic of opioid analgesic misuse and overdose deaths. Because of this, the Health Department is conducting door-to-door outreach to physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants on the safe and judicious prescribing of opioid analgesics.

Download the Opioid Analgesic Action Kit

Oral Health and Smoking Action Kit (2016)

Tobacco use kills an estimated 12,000 New Yorkers a year—and many more suffer daily from tobacco-related illnesses. More than two-thirds of New York City smokers try to quit every year. Smokers experience higher rates of oral conditions that can complicate dental care, including periodontal disease and oral cancer. Quitting can decrease the risk of these complications, as well as prevent other debilitations and life-threatening diseases. The clinical tools, provider resources, and patient education materials in this Smoking and Oral Health Quit Kit will support and amplify your efforts to help patients quit smoking for good.

Download the Oral Health and Smoking Quit Kit

Pediatric Obesity Action Kit (2019)

Maintaining a healthy weight in childhood is an important component of building a healthy future. The prevalence of obesity among children in the U.S. remains high, and recent findings show that nearly 40% of NYC public school children are overweight or obese. A lack of affordable and healthy food options, limited opportunities for safe physical activity outdoors and advertisements for junk foods and sugary drinks targeted at children can make it challenging for children and their families to maintain healthy diets and weights. As a primary care provider, addressing these social and environmental factors can help your patients and their families. The clinical tools, provider resources, and patient education materials in this Pediatric Obesity Action Kit will support and amplify your efforts to promote nutrition and healthy weight in your patients and their families.

Download the Pediatric Obesity Action Kit

PrEP and PEP Action Kit (2019)

The PrEP and PEP Action Kit includes provider and patient resources. It is structured around these core HIV prevention practices:

  • Taking a thorough sexual history
  • Screening and treating sexually active patients
  • Talking about PrEP and PEP
  • Prescribing PrEP and PEP

Download the PrEP and PEP Action Kit

Tobacco Quit Action Kit (2016)

Tobacco use kills an estimated 12,000 New Yorkers a year—and many more suffer daily from tobacco-related illnesses. More than two-thirds of New York City smokers try to quit every year. With proper counseling and appropriate use of nicotine replacement and other pharmacotherapies including combination regimens, long-term quit rates rise as high as 20 or 30%. However, nationally, only 20% of patients receive counseling and 8% are prescribed a medication. The prevalence of smoking has declined significantly, but there are still almost 900,000 smokers in New York City. Currently, 80% of adult smokers smoke 10 or fewer cigarettes a day, half being non-daily smokers.

Download the Tobacco Quit Kit

Youth Tobacco and E-Cigarette Prevention Action Kit (2022)

The popularity of e-cigarettes among youth is alarming. In 2017, more than three times as many high school students used e-cigarettes than smoked cigarettes. E-cigarettes can be especially harmful for young people because nicotine affects them in different ways than adults. Also, more than 100,000 New York City children ages 12 and younger are exposed to secondhand smoke from tobacco and e-cigarette products.

As a health care provider, you can inspire youth to resist tobacco, e-cigarettes and alternative products through education and counseling.

Download the Youth Tobacco and E-Cigarette Prevention Action Kit