Mile Bluff is Nationally Recognized for Efforts to Improve Blood Pressure Control

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

Mile Bluff Medical Center has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for its commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning Gold-level recognition as part of Target: BP™. The Gold award recognizes practices in which high blood pressure is controlled in 70% or more of the adult patients affected.

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.[i] Unfortunately, just a quarter of them have their BP under control, making both diagnosis and effective management critical.[ii] 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 Mile Bluff Medical Center Quality Director Carmen Liebelt. “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 Mile Bluff Medical Center, that are committed to improving blood pressure control.

“By committing to helping more people control their blood pressure and reduce their risks for future heart disease and stroke, Mile Bluff Medical Center 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. “Mile Bluff Medical Center’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.