A collaboration between the American Heart Association and Damian Family Health Centers is advancing access and consistency in blood pressure management.
High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke and a number of heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation (AFib), and affects nearly half (46.7%) of all adults in the United States. It is a priority for the American Heart Association to elevate access to vital resources and information that serve to empower individuals to better manage their blood pressure.
The network of Damian Family Health Centers seeks to meet the healthcare needs of low-income and homeless individuals in New York City. Over the last three years, the Association has collaborated with their clinical leadership to improve patient outcomes from chronic diseases.
As part of this joint effort, the Association has supported the network’s engagement with several initiatives that address barriers to blood pressure management in New York’s most vulnerable communities, including: the National Hypertension Control Initiative and the statewide Lower the Pressure initiative.
The network has collaborated with the Association, utilizing resources from the Target: BP™ platform, and plans to codify policies across their sites to keep their blood pressure management care current and consistent.
Target: BP™ is a national initiative created by the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association (AMA) to improve diagnosis and blood pressure control in clinical settings. Through organizations participating in Target: BP™, we have ensured quality care for 9 million patients with high blood pressure nationwide.
Measuring Accurately
- Using the US Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing (VDL™) or other reliable source to confirm if their devices are validated for clinical accuracy
- Committed to strengthening BP measurement knowledge every 6-12 months for all staff who measure blood pressure
- Training their staff to measure blood pressure using structured curriculum
- Testing their staff’s BP measurement skills every 6-12 months
Acting Rapidly
- Determining policies on prompts for clinicians/prescribers to intensify treatment (additional medication or increased doses) for patients with uncontrolled hypertension
- Follow-up care within one month for patients with Stage 1 or 2 hypertension who have not yet met their treatment goals
- Developing strategies designed to improve patient adherence to treatment
Ensuring Equitable Health Outcomes
- Streamlining policies and procedures to gather race/ethnicity data and to assess the conditions in which people live, grow, work, and age that impact health outcomes and quality of life, otherwise known as Social Determinants of Health (SDoH)
- Monitoring team adherence to policy and procedure(s)
- Examination and use of data for care/quality improvement opportunities and to address gaps and outcomes across patient groups
“It’s been really exciting to see all of the advancements we’ve been able to make in our community with Damian Family Health Centers,” said Syed Bhuiyan, senior community impact director at the Association in New York City. “We are looking forward to seeing this relationship continue to evolve and watching our projects for the upcoming year come to fruition.”
The collaborative effort between Damian Family Health Centers and the American Heart Association has made strides in improving the quality of care for our city’s most vulnerable community members. The commitment of clinical leaders like Damian Health ensures that we improve outcomes for our neighbors and remain a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.
You can help manage your blood pressure with healthy lifestyle behaviors such as eating a nutritious diet, being physically active, and maintaining or achieving a healthy weight. Learn more at heart.org/BP.