The High Blood Pressure Collaborative gives away blood pressure cuffs for home monitoring through medical clinics and health ministries involved in the program.
Thousands of residents in Monroe County are controlling their high blood pressure and living healthier lives as a result of the work of UR Medicine’s Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals and Rochester Regional Health’s Rochester General and Unity hospitals through the community-based High Blood Pressure Collaborative.
The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) presented its prestigious 2016 Community Health Improvement Award to these hospitals in recognition of their critical role in population health management.
“This effort epitomizes the true spirit of collaboration — four hospitals from two health systems partnering with community stakeholders to create a multifaceted approach to improve care, reduce disparities, and help curb regional healthcare costs,” said HANYS President Dennis Whalen.
Formed in 2010, the Collaborative has worked to address hypertension in the community — one-third of adults in the county had high blood pressure. Today, 71% are in control of their blood pressure, well above the national average of 52%.
With the goal of more proactively identifying and effectively treating patients with high blood pressure, especially in under-served areas, the hospital partners focus on helping people control their high blood pressure with lifestyle changes and medication, if necessary. The innovative, evidence-based approach includes establishing a first-of-its-kind community-wide, centralized high blood pressure registry, and embedding advocates in community health clinics to guide and educate hypertensive patients. Interventions also include worksite wellness initiatives for the hospitals’ staff, and specially-trained physicians who share new treatment approaches for hypertension with local practices.
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center of West Islip received an Honorable Mention for the Community Health Improvement Award for its Healthier Families Program. Kids in grades 3-5 with high body mass indexes participate along with their parents and guardians in a free 10- to 12-week program that focused on healthy eating through culturally-sensitive nutrition classes, and being active with enjoyable exercise and activity sessions. Working with the local school district and community wellness alliance, the hospital’s program has resulted in more than half of participating children improving their body mass index.
HANYS’ Community Health Improvement Award was established in 1997 to recognize outstanding initiatives focused on specific community health issues, with collaborations and quantifiable results. This year’s nominees showcase a broad range of partnerships that extend far beyond the hospital walls to meet New York State’s Prevention Agenda goal of making our state the healthiest in the nation.
Reposted from the Healthcare Association of New York State.