Gateway Health Announces a Strategic Healthcare Partnership with American Heart Association to provide Blood Pressure Monitoring Resources

PITTSBURGH, April 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gateway Health announced today that it has entered into an innovative health partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA) to become the first health plan in the Great Rivers Affiliate region to offer the Check. Change. Control.^® (Self-Monitoring) Blood Pressure Control and Target: BP programs. The partnership is designed to prioritize comprehensive blood pressure management with the appropriate tools, education and resources The Great Rivers Affiliate Region covers five states including Delaware, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

"We are proud to empower individuals to take action with their heart health through this unique partnership made possible with the American Heart Association," said Gateway Health Medical Director, Dr. Anita Edwards. "High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke, the leading causes of death in the United States, but most importantly, a controllable factor. Our goal, in concert with the American Heart Association, is to improve cardiovascular health and decrease mortality."

The Check. Change. Control program is an evidence-based high blood pressure management program which encourages members to monitor their blood pressure with weekly readings or a series of eight reading over four months. The blood pressure readings can then be checked and monitored using an online tracker available on the American Heart Association's Tracker website. Check. Change. Control focuses on making blood pressure control and education a priority for individuals while promoting lifestyle changes to improve cardiovascular health.

The Target: BP program arms healthcare providers with access to tools and assets that can be offered to patients in their practice. Providers can take help patients take control of their cardiovascular health and share best practices and testimonials with other users of the program to highlight their success.

"One out of three adults have high blood pressure and half of those are not taking the appropriate steps to monitor and control this condition," said Deb Banks, Executive Director, American Heart Association, Greater Pittsburgh Region. "The American Heart Association strives to build a culture of health in this region and nationally.   Working cooperatively with Gateway is a great opportunity to help hundreds of people better manage their cardiovascular health starting with monitoring and controlling high blood pressure."

Gateway Health President and CEO, Patti Darnley, who is the 2017 Chair for the Pittsburgh Go Red for Women luncheon, offered her thoughts on Gateway Health becoming the first healthcare plan in the five state region to offer these programs.

"This is an impactful opportunity to partner with the American Heart Association to educate and bring awareness to cardiovascular health. We're passionate about our members' health and partner with our providers to offer programs that can help them improve the health and wellness of their patients. Through Check. Change. Control and Target: BP we are making a statement on Gateway's commitment to prevention of heart attack and stroke and improved cardiovascular health through regular blood pressure management."

For more information about the AHA Blood Pressure Management Programs, please visit www.heart.org

About Gateway Health 
Gateway Health is a nationally ranked managed care organization that focuses on providing the best possible healthcare to a growing number of Medicaid and Medicare Advantage consumers. A not-for-profit organization, Gateway Health serves the needs of at risk and vulnerable citizens with not only healthcare coverage, but services such as disease management, health and wellness programs and preventive care. The organization provides Medicaid services in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia and Medicare coverage in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio and North Carolina. Our commitment to helping our members and their communities get and stay healthy is what keeps members, providers, communities and partners "Good with Gateway." To learn more about Gateway Health, visit us online at www.gatewayhealthplan.com.

About American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA)
The American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Founded by six cardiologists in 1924, our organization now includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters. We fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide critical tools and information to save and improve lives. Our nationwide organization includes 156 local offices and more than 3,000 employees. We moved our national headquarters from New York to Dallas in 1975 to be more centrally located. The American Stroke Association was created as a division in 1997 to bring together the organization's stroke-related activities.

SOURCE Gateway Health

Related Links

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