The American Heart Association and American Medical Association presented the Target: BP Silver+ Award for commitment to prioritizing blood pressure control.

Affinia Healthcare has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for its commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates,

earning Silver Plus-level recognition as part of Target: BP™. 

The Silver Plus achievement award recognizes practices that have demonstrated a commitment to improving blood pressure control through evidence-based practices for BP measurement and treatment. 

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and preventable death in the U.S. There are 122.4 million U.S. adults living with hypertension. The is nearly half of all adults in the country.  Unfortunately, just a quarter of them have their BP under control, making both diagnosis and effective management critical.  In the U.S., heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death, respectively, and stroke is a leading cause of disability.  

“Addressing blood pressure management is key for better cardiovascular health – and critical today, when heart disease and stroke continue to be leading causes of death for adults in the U.S.,” said Dr. Kendra Holmes, Affinia Healthcare President & CEO. “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.” 

Target: BP is a national initiative formed by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association in response to the high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure. The initiative aims to help health care organizations and care teams, at no cost, improve blood pressure control rates through an evidence-based quality improvement program and recognizes organizations, like Affinia Healthcare that are committed to improving blood pressure control.  

“By committing to helping more people in the St. Louis area control their blood pressure and reduce their risks for future heart disease and stroke, Affinia Healthcare is taking a key step to helping more people live longer, healthier lives,” said Warren Vongpatanasin, M.D., volunteer member of the Target: BP Advisory Group and liaison to the American Heart Association Hypertension Council. “Affinia Healthcare’s participation in the Target: BP initiative shows its dedication to turning clinical guidelines into lifelines for patients and their families.” 

Learn more at TargetBP.org.