Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Jefferson Health join Penn Medicine, Temple Health and the American Heart Association to expand lifesaving hypertension care and education across the city.
One in three residents in Philadelphia has hypertension (high blood pressure), but many don’t know it. That’s why high blood pressure is often called “the silent killer.” Nationally, it disproportionately affects communities of color: by age 55, 3 out of 4 Black adults have developed the condition, compared to about 47.5% of white adults. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, dementia and kidney failure.
The Team Up to Take Down High Blood Pressure initiative is expanding across Philadelphia, with Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and Jefferson Health joining Penn Medicine, Temple Health and the American Heart Association, Greater Philadelphia. The expansion marks year three of the citywide effort, which began in West and Southwest Philadelphia in 2024 and expanded to North Philadelphia last year.
The addition of PCOM and Jefferson Health significantly broadens the initiative’s reach, creating new opportunities to connect residents throughout Philadelphia with hypertension screening, education, referral services and evidence-based care. Together, they will work to build a more coordinated system of support that improves cardiovascular health across the city.
“We are proud to welcome Jefferson Health and PCOM to this growing initiative,” said Jennifer Litchman-Green, executive director, Heart Association, Greater Philadelphia. “Adding them strengthens our ability to reach residents across the city. Together, the Heart Association, Penn Medicine, Temple Health, Jefferson Health and PCOM are building a coordinated, citywide approach to improving blood pressure management, reducing health disparities and creating healthier communities for generations to come.”
The goal of the Team Up to Take Down High Blood Pressure initiative is to reduce barriers to care, increase awareness and implement evidence-based strategies that improve hypertension control rates. This expansion will extend the initiative’s reach to more neighborhoods, blocks and residents, representing an important next step toward achieving citywide care for hypertension management by 2030.
By 2027, the initiative aims to have eight health centers and 16 community sites offering implemented evidence-based strategies, including community-based blood pressure screening and referral programs, clinic-based self-measured blood pressure, strategic planning and annual training for healthcare organizations on the latest best practices in the management of hypertension.
This year’s participating organizations will receive program information and actionable next steps in the fall.
To date, participating clinical and community organizations include Family Practice and Counseling Services Network, Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Spectrum Health Services, Project HOME, Fair Hill Community Physicians, Eddie’s House, North10 Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Masjid, YEAH Philly and Zion Baptist Church. Year three will welcome six additional organizations.
The initiative will continue its public awareness campaign focused on empowering residents to regularly check their blood pressure and understand the risks and management strategies for hypertension.
“PCOM is committed to improving community health through education, prevention and access to care,” said Jay Feldstein, D.O., president and CEO, PCOM. “By joining this collaborative effort, we have an opportunity to connect residents with resources and support that can help prevent serious cardiovascular complications and improve long-term health outcomes.”
“High blood pressure remains one of the leading risk factors for heart disease and stroke, yet it is often undetected until serious complications arise,” said Kate FitzPatrick, D.N.P., RN, NEA-BC, FAAN,of Jefferson Health and board president, Heart Association, Greater Philadelphia. “Along with the Heart Association, Penn Medicine, Temple Health and PCOM, we can expand access to screening, education and evidence-based care in communities where the need is greatest.”
“The growth of this initiative is an important step forward in our collaborative efforts to build healthier communities,” said Kevin B. Mahoney, CEO, University of Pennsylvania Health System. “By uniting the American Heart Association with four of Philadelphia’s leading healthcare and academic institutions, Team Up to Take Down High Blood Pressure is creating a citywide network that strengthens high blood pressure prevention, early detection, and treatment, allowing us to reach people where they are, engage more neighborhoods, and address barriers to care on a broader scale than any one organization could achieve alone.”
For more information on the Team Up to Take Down initiative, contact Jeffrey Salvatore, M.S.N., RN, CCRN-CMC, vice president, Community Impact, American Heart Association, Greater Philadelphia, at Jeffrey.salvatore@heart.org.