Ten Community Health Centers have been named 2015 Million Hearts Hypertension Control Champions for working with patients to achieve hypertension control rates at or above 70 percent. Million Hearts is a national initiative to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017 by bringing together communities, and public and private organizations to fight heart disease and stroke [see our previous blog post about this initiative]. This year, they are recognizing 18 healthcare practices and systems across the country. The ten health centers who are receiving Million Hearts recognition include:
- Access Community Health Center (New York City, NY)
- Albany Area Primary Health Care, Inc (Albany, GA)
- Baltimore Medical System at Middlesex (Baltimore, MD)
- Hamakua-Kohala Health (Honokaa, HI)
- International Community Health Services (Seattle, WA)
- OHSU Family Medicine at Richmond (Portland, OR)
- Petaluma Health Center (Petaluma, CA)
- Thundermist Health Center (Woonsacket, RI)
- Unity Family Medicine at St. Bernard’s (Rochester, NY)
- Zufall Health Center (Dover, NJ)
These health centers were singled out because they are achieving success and making a difference in their patients’ health. Some of their practices include understanding their patient population, showing verifiable blood pressure control data, and effectively using health information technology to keep down blood pressure, using team-based care models and staying connected to patients through outreach and support. Their work is important not only because it prevents hospitalization, but also saves lives. Cardiovascular disease—including heart disease and stroke—is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Congratulations to those who were recognized!