Organizations Unite in National Effort to Improve High Blood Pressure Prevention, Detection and Control
Newswise — ALEXANDRIA, VA-The American Medical Group Association announced today that the American Heart Association and American Stoke Association will collaborate on Measure Up/Pressure Down, a national campaign to improve high blood pressure prevention, detection and control, spearheaded by the American Medical Group Foundation (AMGF), AMGA's nonprofit education and research arm. The organizations will work together to promote high blood pressure awareness and develop educational resources and tools for physicians and patients.
Measure Up/Pressure Down challenges healthcare providers, patients, employers, and the entire nation to improve high blood pressure detection and control. The central mission of the campaign is to mobilize medical groups and organized systems of care to adopt one or more evidence-based care processes that lead to measurable improvements in high blood pressure outcomes. To further the campaign’s reach, the changes in clinical practice are being supplemented with patient education tools, strategic partnerships, special events and a national media and public awareness strategy. Nearly 140 AMGA medical groups and health systems delivering care to over 41 million patients have joined Measure Up/Pressure Down.
"We are delighted to welcome the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association as national partners of Measure Up/Pressure Down," says Donald W. Fisher, Ph.D., CAE, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMGA and Secretary of the Board of AMGF. “Both organizations bring a wealth of expertise and resources in patient education and engagement that will benefit our members and the millions of patients whom they serve.”
The organizations will collaborate on a number of initiatives including facilitating the use of AHA resources such as its Heart360 health tracking tool among Measure Up/Pressure Down participating medical groups and visitors to the campaign website launching later this month. “The American Heart Association commends the American Medical Group Association on its leadership in the hypertension awareness space,” says David Magid, M.D., M.P.H., Hypertension Science Expert for the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. “We look forward to the launch of this collaboration, as it works in alignment with the American Heart Association’s 2020 impact goals and strategies to help all Americans control their blood pressure levels. Together, we can make a meaningful impact.”
AHA joins other partners and supporting organizations including the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Million Hearts initiative, the Association of Black Cardiologists, the American Society of Hypertension, the American Kidney Fund, and the Institute for Health and Productivity Management. The campaign also has two national sponsors that are committed to helping resolve this public health challenge: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.MeasureUpPressureDown.com.# # # About the Measure Up/Pressure Down CampaignThe American Medical Group Foundation (AMGF), the nonprofit arm of the American Medical Group Association, launched Measure Up/Pressure Down-a three-year national campaign to improve care and reduce the burden of high blood pressure on November 29, 2012. Measure Up/Pressure Down includes more than 130 medical groups, health systems and national partners such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, and Geisinger Health System. The goal of the three-year campaign is to have 80 percent of high blood pressure patients in control of their condition by 2016.
About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke—America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or join us, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or any of our offices around the country, or visit heart.org
About the American Stroke AssociationThe American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — America’s No. 4 killer and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association was created in 1997 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit strokeassociation.org
About AMGFThe American Medical Group Foundation (AMGF) is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the American Medical Group Association and it supports and disseminates research on better ways to deliver health care that is scientifically sound and value-based. AMGF also develops and supports educational programs to enable all stakeholders-providers, payers, policymakers and patients to translate the evidence of what works best into everyday practice. www.amga.org/foundation
About AMGAThe American Medical Group Association represents some of the nation's largest, most prestigious medical practices, independent practice associations, accountable care organizations, and integrated healthcare delivery systems. AMGA's mission is to support its members in enhancing population health and care for patients through integrated systems of care. More than 130,000 physicians practice in AMGA member organizations, providing healthcare services for 120 million patients (approximately one in three Americans). Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, AMGA is the strategic partner for these organizations, providing a comprehensive package of benefits, including political advocacy, educational and networking programs, publications, benchmarking data services, and financial and operations assistance. www.amga.org
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