Million Hearts, a national initiative aiming to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017, recognizes healthcare organizations that help more than 70 percent of their adult patients control their hypertension through healthcare IT and EHRs and patient communication, according to the Herald Online. Kaiser Permanente Southern California achieved hypertension controls of 88.8 percent among commercial insurance patients and 89.8 percent in Medicare patients.
The initiative, led by CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, takes into account hospitals making blood pressure control a priority, using evidence-based guidelines, using team-based models to increase patient communication, using EHRs that include clinical decision tools and staying engaged with patients, according to a CDC press release.
Kaiser Permanente Southern California is one of 30 individuals and organizations to receive the distinction this year. Kaiser Permanente Northern California won the award in 2013, and Kaiser Permanente Colorado won in 2012.
