At least 33% of people in Philadelphia – more in West and Southwest Philadelphia – suffer from high blood pressure. But many of them don’t know it – which is why the condition, also known as hypertension, is known as ‘the silent killer’. Across the country, it is taking a disproportionate toll on communities of color: By age 55, research shows that three out of four black adults have already developed the condition, compared to about 47.5% of white adults. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to a range of debilitating and potentially fatal chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, dementia and kidney disease.
Today, Penn Medicine and the Greater Philadelphia American Heart Association (AHA) are launching a joint effort aimed at reversing the trend by removing barriers to accurate blood pressure readings and helping people get earlier diagnosis and treatment in partnership with a healthcare provider. Through the new three-year initiative, nine community organizations and three healthcare practices will collaborate with Penn Medicine and the AHA to implement evidence-based protocols; examples include community-based blood pressure screening and referral initiatives, clinic-based self-measured blood pressure initiatives to diagnose and manage hypertension, and annual training for healthcare organizations to assess and build knowledge on how to measure accurate blood pressure can be done; all community and clinical protocols proven to improve blood pressure control.
Too often, the zip code where someone lives can have a more powerful impact on their health than their genetic code. As a cardiologist, I am proud that this collaboration demonstrates our commitment to stepping beyond clinical walls to meet our communities where they are and connecting with the people most at risk and currently missed by the healthcare system. Getting your blood pressure checked regularly is knowledge, and knowledge is power – power that should be available to everyone, no matter where they live.”
Helene Glassberg, MD, director, Pre-operative Cardiac Clinic and professor of clinical medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and chair of the board of directors of the Greater Philadelphia Region of the American Heart Association
The “Team Up to Take Down High Blood Pressure” initiative kicks off on November 11 at Second Antioch Baptist Church, in the heart of West Philadelphia, where an initial group of project partners will gather to receive information about the program and a walk to make. away with actionable next steps. Participating organizations include clinical partners Family Practice and Counseling Network, Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Spectrum Health Services and community partners Southwest CDC and Second Antioch Baptist Church, all of which collectively serve an estimated 59,000 residents of West and Southwest Philadelphia annually.
The partnership also includes a targeted public awareness campaign aimed at empowering residents of West and Southwest Philadelphia to get their blood pressure checked regularly and increase awareness of the significant health risks of high blood pressure and how to effectively treat the condition prevented and managed. In addition, Penn Medicine and the AHA will host an annual learning cooperative to share best practices and key lessons learned on barriers that prevent patients from effectively managing high blood pressure. The Penn Medicine team will collaborate with student groups from across the University of Pennsylvania to support the clinics and community organizations in implementing self-measured blood pressure initiatives and community-based screening and referral programs. Students will also have the opportunity to help teach the AHA’s EmPOWERED To Serve health classes at participating community sites; a curriculum designed to harness the passion of individuals and organizations to overcome barriers to health equity.
“Penn Medicine and the AHA have a shared commitment to eliminating structural barriers that keep people in the communities we serve from living healthier lives,” said Kevin B. Mahoney, CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. “By working with organizations and individuals who care about the community, staying true to science and quality, and remaining open to innovation, we are hopeful that we can save and improve lives. We are part of these communities and want to do our part in working together to discover solutions.”
“We are proud to stand with Penn Medicine and the communities in West and Southwest Philadelphia to address the social inequities and healthcare barriers that exist for historically underserved communities, which we know are result in an increased prevalence of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease,” said Jennifer Litchman-Green, Executive Director of Greater Philadelphia AHA “We strive to improve the management of high blood pressure by identifying gaps in our systems that prevent members of the community to achieve optimal blood pressure.”
This initiative represents a powerful collaboration focused on a proactive approach to cardiovascular health with the goal of implementing sustainable approaches that will last well beyond the three-year initiative and can be brought to other communities in Philadelphia and beyond.
For more information about the initiative, contact Jeffrey Salvatore, MSN, RN, CCRN-CMC, vice president, Community Impact, Greater Philadelphia AHA, at [email protected].
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