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-level recognition as part of Target: BP™.

The Silver award recognizes practices that have demonstrated a commitment to improving blood pressure control through measurement accuracy.

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. “According to the American Heart Association, 55 percent of African Americans have high blood pressure, which is a leading risk factor of heart disease and stroke. But high blood pressure can be managed if diagnosed and treated properly. I’m extremely proud of our Chronic Disease Management team and the work of our clinicians and other staff who are working with patients to help control and prevent this condition in our communities.”

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 Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, PhD, MHS, RN, FAHA, Target: BP advisory group volunteer and associate professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. “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.