Cincy Reporter

CCPC earned Gold+ level recognition for its commitment to measurement accuracy and achieving an exceptional 70% or greater blood pressure control

The City of Cincinnati Primary Care (CCPC) health centers, part of the Cincinnati Health Department (CHD), earned Gold+ level national recognition from the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Medical Association (AMA).

This recognition acknowledges CCPC’s commitment to measurement accuracy and achieving an exceptional 70% or greater blood pressure (BP) control rate throughout the adult population it serves.

“High blood pressure can be devastating to someone’s health,” said Grant Mussman, M.D., MHSA, Cincinnati Health Department Commissioner. “Together with high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The proper prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions can help prevent heart disease and strokes.”

CPCC participates in various initiatives to improve the cardiovascular health of its patients, many of whom have high prevalence of high blood pressure.

“We continue to be dedicated to helping our patients manage cardiovascular risk factors to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other preventable heart conditions,” said Denise M. Saker, M.D., MPH, FAAP, Interim Medical Director, Cincinnati Health Department. “Often called a ‘silent killer’ because it often shows no symptoms, high blood pressure dramatically increases the risk for heart disease, heart failure, and stroke.”

According to Target: BP, the latest prevalence estimates show that 46% of adults in the United States have high blood pressure. Despite the serious risk of heart attack, stroke, and even death, and the fact that we’ve made significant progress improving high blood pressure control rates in the U.S., blood pressure control remains far from ideal.

About Target: BP™

Target: BP™ is a national initiative formed by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) in response to the high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure (BP). Target: BP helps health care organizations and care teams, at no cost, improve BP control rates through an evidence-based quality improvement program and recognizes organizations committed to improving BP control.

About the Cincinnati Health Department

Founded in 1826, the Cincinnati Health Department (CHD) is committed to protecting and improving the health of the people of Cincinnati. As a nationally recognized leader in public health, CHD advocates for responsive health and human services that promote healthy living environments and social wellbeing. It strives to reduce inequities such as poverty and unemployment, which often negatively impact people’s health.

CHD is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and serves more than 40,000 patients annually. It operates six primary care health centers, one free-standing dental center, and 13 school-based health centers. The school-based health centers are full-service CHD health centers located within Cincinnati Public Schools. These health centers, which currently serve more than 10,000 students, also serve the medical needs of children and families in the community. For more information, visit cincinnati-oh.gov/health. 

Original source can be found here.