The American Heart Association (AHA) and American Medical Association (AMA) have awarded Gold Level status to the GRACE Community Clinic for the fifth year in a row. This year the Community Clinic was additionally recognized with Target: BP Gold Plus Status award, citing practices that have demonstrated a commitment to measurement accuracy, and serving 70 percent or more of their adult patient population with controlled high blood pressure.
Bry Mabry, American Heart Association, director of community impact for North Texas, sent the following: “The AHA and AMA congratulate you on achieving Gold + Level Achievement Award 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.
“High blood pressure is a leading risk factor of heart disease and stroke that can often be prevented or managed if diagnosed and treated properly,” said Shirley Roberts, RN, BAS, CCM, Community Clinic Nurse Manager. “Addressing blood pressure management is key for better cardiovascular health–and critical today since heart disease and strokes continue to be a leading cause of death.”
Target: BP is a national collaboration between the AHA and the AMA aimed at reducing the number of Americans who suffer from heart attacks and strokes each year by urging physician practices, health systems and patients to prioritize BP control. The initiative aims to help health care organizations improve blood pressure control rates through use of AMA MAP BP™ evidence-based protocols.
The Target: BP Recognition Program celebrates physician practices and health systems, who treat patients with hypertension, for achieving BP control rates at or above 70 percent within the populations they serve.
“We are very honored to be recognized, once again, for our work in this area,” said Roberts. “We are committed to our quality of care by improving awareness, identification, and control of heart disease by educating and empowering our patients.”
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.
For more information about the GRACE Community Clinic, please contact Shirley Roberts, RN, BAS, CCM or call 817-305-4681.
