Kauai Medical Clinic’s Eleele location was recently recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) as a leader in the national effort to get patient blood pressure rates under control to reduce heart attacks and strokes. The clinic was awarded Gold Status as part of the 2019 Target: BP Recognition Program.
Kauai Medical Clinic’s Eleele location was one of just 542 physician practices and health systems to be recognized for achieving blood pressure control rates of 70% or more in their adult patient population with high blood pressure.
A total of 1,183 physician practices and health systems nationwide were recognized by the program for their commitment to help patients improve blood pressure control.
The recognized organizations represent 29.8 million adult patients, with more than 8 million patients diagnosed with hypertension, across 46 states and territories.
Launched in 2015, Target: BP is a national initiative between the AHA and AMA aimed at addressing the growing burden of high blood pressure in the U.S. The initiative aims to help health care organizations improve blood pressure control rates through use of the AMA’s evidence-based M.A.P. quality improvement program, and recognizes organizations committed to improving blood pressure control.
“We’re extremely proud of our Eleele clinic for the Target: BP recognition, which demonstrates the commitment of the clinic’s physicians and staff to improve health outcomes for our patients,” said Jen H. Chahanovich, president and CEO of Wilcox Medical Center and CEO of Kauai Medical Clinic. “Controlling conditions like high blood pressure is one of the keys to helping patients live longer, healthier lives.”
There are 116 million U.S. adults living with high blood pressure, the nation’s number one risk factor for heart attack and stroke, and less than half have it controlled to target level. Many patients are unaware of the deadly consequences associated with high blood pressure and that it can be managed working in partnership with their physician to create and follow a treatment plan.
“Although we have the tools to treat high blood pressure, many patients face a variety of barriers that make it difficult to successfully manage the condition. That’s why the American Heart Association and American Medical Association created the Target: BP initiative – to bring patients and providers together to successfully get blood pressure under control,” said AMA President Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA. “We applaud the physicians who are already working hard to control their patients’ blood pressure, and we will continue to urge more physician practices, health systems and patients to join this effort to prioritize the rising risk of high blood pressure and improve health outcomes for patients across the nation.”
"Collaboration is key to managing high blood pressure," said AHA President Robert Harrington, MD, FAHA. "When doctors, clinics, patients and organizations like the American Heart Association and American Medical Association are all working towards the same goal, we have the opportunity for great success. We are pleased to be a part of the success of so many practices – and so many patients – in reducing high blood pressure and improving health."
Kauai Medical Clinic’s Eleele location, along with all other practices and health systems being recognized, will be featured in upcoming Target: BP materials. This includes appearing in national journal ads, on TargetBP.org, and acknowledged at AMA and AHA events throughout the year.
Located at 4382 Waialo Road in Eleele, Kauai Medical Clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Its family medicine physicians provide primary care services, certified diabetes education, and bone and joint care. For more information, call 808-335-0499.