Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning the silver-level award as part of the Target: BP™ initiative.
Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning the silver-level award as part of the Target: BP™ initiative.
The Silver award recognizes practices that have demonstrated a commitment to improving blood pressure control through measurement accuracy.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and preventable death in the U.S. There are 121.5 million U.S. adults living with hypertension. The is nearly half of all adults in the country. Unfortunately, less than half of them have their BP under control, making both diagnosis and effective management critical. In the U.S., heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death, respectively, and stroke is a leading cause of disability.
“Addressing blood pressure management is key for better cardiovascular health – and critical today, when heart disease and stroke continue to be leading causes of death for adults in the U.S.,” said Medical Director, Kristin Bresowar, MD. “High blood pressure is a leading risk factor of heart disease and stroke that can often be prevented or managed if diagnosed and treated properly.”
Target: BP is a national initiative formed by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association in response to the high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure. The initiative aims to help health care organizations and care teams, at no cost, improve blood pressure control rates through an evidence-based quality improvement program and recognizes organizations, like Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems that are committed to improving blood pressure control.
“By committing to helping more people in Southwest Virginia control their blood pressure and reduce their risks for future heart disease and stroke, Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems are taking a key step to helping more people live longer, healthier lives,” said Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, PhD, MHS, RN, FAHA, Target: BP advisory group volunteer and associate professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.”Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems’ participation in the Target: BP initiative shows its dedication to turning clinical guidelines into lifelines for patients and their families.”
SVCHS has community health centers in Meadowview, Va., Saltville, Va., Bristol, Va., and Tazewell, Va. For more information, call 276-496-4492.
