The Gift That Will Keep On Giving

CDC Awards Funds To Prince George’s County Health Department For Chronic Disease Program Affecting Over One Million Residents In Underserved Areas

By Aisha Brantley 

Through a generous Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant awarded to the Prince George’s County Health Department, underserved residents who are high-risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke will have better access to health care.

The $12 million, five-year cooperative agreement to improve access to chronic disease care will affect an estimated 1.2 million residents in Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. The initiative to fund strategies that establish or strengthen clinical practice with evidence-based public health programs also aims to improve treatment resources, prevention programs, and overall health outcomes for residents in underserved areas of these counties.

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III

“A healthier Prince George’s County is good for our residents, the county, and the state,” says County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. “I am extremely proud of the work that our Health Department has done over the last eight years to address health disparities, and this grant will help us continue our efforts for years to come.”

Chronic diseases continue to claim lives in the Southern Maryland region. In 2017, heart disease caused over 2,000 deaths in the four-county area; stroke and diabetes caused over 850 deaths.

As unmanaged chronic disease contributes to health care costs, and barriers to patient care in Southern Maryland include lack of transportation, health insurance coverage, and social support, the CDC-recognized public health program bridges the gap to increase awareness while promoting lifestyle change. Other strategies include establishing a bi-directional patient referral system between health care systems and adopting telehealth options to tackle barriers to participation and retention.  

The Prince George’s County Health Department will work with leading public health, private health, and medical organizations across the state to boost health care infrastructure. Program partners include: 

Calvert County Health Department

Charles County Health Department

Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients

Community Care Coordination Team

Existing CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Programs

Health Quality Innovators

HealthCare Dynamics International

Institute for Public Health Innovation

Maryland Department of Health

Maryland Rural Health Association

P3 Pharmacist Network (UM School of Pharmacy, Maryland Pharmacists Association, Maryland General Assembly, Maryland Department of Health)

Prince George’s County Healthcare Alliance, Inc.

St. Mary’s AccessHealth and St. Mary’s County Health Department

Totally Linked Care, LLC (CalvertHealth Memorial Hospital, UM Capital Region North, Doctors Community Hospital, Fort Washington Medical Center, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, Area Agencies on Aging, Maryland State Medical Society and Primary Care Providers, Prince George’s County Health Department, Calvert County Health Department)

UM School of Arts and Humanities, Department of Communication

UM School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health

UM School of Public Health, Horowitz Center for Health Literacy