The American Heart Association (AHA) and American Medical Association (AMA) awarded Gold Level status to the GRACE Community Clinic for the fourth year in a row, and the AHA selected the Community Clinic to be part of their new nationwide cholesterol initiative.
Dr. Takiyah R. Wilson, senior director of healthcare systems for the American Medical Association, sent the following: “The AHA and AMA congratulate you on achieving Gold Level Recognition with the Target: BP Initiative. We thank you for your continued support and commitment.”
“Target: BP” is a joint AHA and AMA project launched in 2015 to improve blood pressure (hypertension) control and aims to reduce the number of Americans who have heart attacks and strokes by urging medical practices, health service organizations, and patients to prioritize blood pressure control.
The “Target: BP” goal was to obtain 70% control of patients with a hypertension diagnosis. More than 73% of the Community Clinic patients with high blood pressure control their disease to less than 140/90 mm Hg. The Community Clinic initially received Gold Level status in 2017.
Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the AHA, announced the Community Clinic was selected to participate in the AHA’s new “Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol” program.
Similar to the “Target BP” initiative on hypertension, the “Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol” was established this year to “improve the identification and management of cholesterol across the nation”.
“We were very honored to be selected for the cholesterol project,” said Shirley Roberts, RN, BAS, CCM, the Community Clinic nurse manager.
In addition to serving as a charter member of the “Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol” initiative, the Community Clinic will have access to AHA studies, evidence-based information, tools, and resources.
“We are committed to our quality of care by improving awareness, identification, and control of high cholesterol by educating and empowering our patients,” said Roberts.
Roberts credits the high standards, achievements, and opportunities of the Community Clinic to her Medical Director, Dr. Song Lee, and all of the other medical professionals who volunteer their time to treat GRACE clients.
“The Community Clinic will continue its Gold Status focus on increasing detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults,” said Roberts. “We also look forward to setting the bar for other clinics participating in the Heart Association’s cholesterol project.”
For more information about the GRACE Community Clinic, please contact Shirley Roberts, RN, BAS, CCM or call 817-305-4681.
