Mainline Health Recognized For Blood Pressure Control

MONTICELLO, Ark. - Mainline Health Systems Inc. (MHSI) has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for its commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning GOLD PLUS status level recognition as part of the Target: BP™ initiative. The Gold Plus award recognizes practices that demonstrate a commitment to measurement accuracy and in which high blood pressure is controlled in 70 percent or more of the affected adult patients. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and preventable death in the U.S. There are approximately 121.5 million U.S. adults living with hypertension. The is nearly half of all adults in the country. Unfortunately, less than half 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. BP™ is a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association aimed at reducing the number of adult patients with uncontrolled BP through evidencebased quality improvement. Gold+ award level recognition-which requires BP control rates of greater than or equal to 70 percent. "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 Jeni Barham, chief quality officer. "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." ...