NCH Medical Group nationally recognized for efforts to prioritize blood pressure control

Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) Medical Group (MG) has been recognized by the American Heart Association/American Medical Association Target: BP program for efforts to improve blood pressure control rates and reduce the number of Americans who have heart attacks or strokes. The achievement of Target: BP Gold recognition means NCH MG is reaching greater than 70% blood pressure control within their adult patient population. NCH MG is one of 18 organizations in Illinois to be recognized at the Gold level.

The Gold and Gold Plus awards recognize NCH MG’s commitment to following the latest evidence- and science-based care guidelines.

“Hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease. Controlling high blood pressure significantly impacts the health and wellness of a large number of our patients,” said NCH Vice President of Physician Operations Sue Nelson, M.D.

Target: BP is a national collaboration between the American Heart Association and American Medical Association aimed at reducing the number of adults in the U.S. who suffer from heart attacks and strokes each year by urging physician practices, health systems and patients to prioritize blood pressure control.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and preventable death in the U.S. There are 121.5 million U.S. adults living with hypertension, nearly half of all adults in the country. Less than half of them have their blood pressure 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. With timely diagnosis, research-based treatment and education, high blood pressure, along with high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes, the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease, can be managed