CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Million Hearts® Hospitals and Health Systems Recognition Program
The Million Hearts® Hospitals & Health Systems Recognition Program acknowledges institutions working to systematically improve the cardiovascular health of the population and communities they serve. NACDD has supported the program since its launch in 2020.
Learn about the excellent efforts of recognized hospitals and health systems working to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Who can Apply
The Million Hearts® Hospitals & Health Systems Recognition Program is open to:
- Health systems with multiple hospitals
- Hospitals with and without ambulatory medical practices
- Medical practices not affiliated with hospitals
- Community health centers
- Any clinical entity whose leaders consider it eligible
Learn more about the program and rules and eligibility requirements
Please click here to apply and send any questions to MHHospitals@chronicdisease.org.
Click here to reference a PDF of the application [PDF – 468 KB].
Lee Health System
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is thrilled to recognize Lee Health as a Million Hearts® Health System.
Lee Health is one of the largest not-for-profit and safety net health systems in Florida, with 4 acute care and 2 specialty hospitals, as well as several outpatient centers and ambulatory clinics. It is being recognized as a Million Hearts® Health System for its work to address hypertension in pregnancy, expand cardiac rehabilitation, and focus on increasing access to care for the rural patients that it serves.
Strategies for Success
Addressing Hypertension in Pregnancy
In a twelve-month period, Lee Health enrolled a total of 765 women in a high-risk obstetric Remote Patient Monitoring Program. The pilot program initially focused on Black women and has since expanded to serve all women with history of hypertension, gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia, and postpartum hypertension. Lee Health’s electronic health record has a dedicated referral pathway to allow anyone to refer patients to the program, which is managed virtually by health care professionals.
In addition to the new program, Lee Health has a hypertension and pre-eclampsia care protocol for both inpatient and outpatient obstetric patients. When women during pregnancy and through six weeks postpartum present for care, the protocol prompts assessment for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Widespread support of self-measured blood pressure monitoring also helps close gaps in care as women transition their care throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
Promoting Cardiac Rehabilitation
Lee Health had a cardiac rehabilitation referral rate of 72% among eligible patients in 2023, and nearly 60% of those referred attended their first session of the program. In order to improve initiation of the program and expand access, particularly to those in rural settings, Lee Health is developing a hybrid program that includes virtual sessions. This program is expected to launch later in 2025.
Focusing on Priority Populations
In addition to their work with pregnant and postpartum patients, Lee Health prioritizes other Million Hearts populations of focus, including people who live in rural areas and people with behavioral health issues who use tobacco.
Lee Health partners with Premier Mobile Health Services and the United Way to bring the Mobile Medical Clinic to areas in need. The Mobile Health Unit includes two exam rooms and is staffed by a nurse and advanced practice provider. Family Medicine services, including routine check-ups and preventive care, are offered by appointment or walk-in. Additionally, the unit is solar powered with a redundant fuel backup generator and can travel for emergency response situations.
Lee Health has a tobacco-free campus policy that covers all facilities and includes smokeless tobacco and vaping. For people with behavioral health issues, Lee Health promotes medication-assisted tobacco cessation therapy for patients at the behavioral health center. Pharmacists lead medication therapy management, including nicotine replacement therapy, and patients can also access individual and group therapy, case management, and peer support.
Congratulations!
Lee Health’s commitment to wellness for all staff and patients and innovative approaches to improve access to care are evident in its programs and facilities. We are pleased to honor Lee Health through the Million Hearts® Hospitals & Health Systems Recognition Program for working systematically to improve the cardiovascular health of those it serves.
Learn more about the Million Hearts® Hospitals & Health Systems Recognition Program and the effective strategies that can be used to prevent cardiovascular events.
Georgia Mountains Health System
Spotlight Story: Georgia Mountains Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is thrilled to recognize Georgia Mountains Health as a Million Hearts® Health System.
Georgia Mountains Health is a non-profit primary care organization with a full time medical and dental staff providing care in several north Georgia counties. It is being recognized as a Million Hearts® Health System for its work to achieve greater than 80% on cholesterol management and smoking cessation performance measures, improve its blood pressure control rate, and provide people in rural north Georgia the health-related social services they need to achieve optimal cardiovascular health.
Strategies for Success
Using Data to Drive Improvement
Georgia Mountains Health monitors clinical quality measures, including measures related to blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation, and recognizes clinicians for high performance on these measures on a quarterly basis. Achieving greater than 80% on cholesterol management and nearly 100% on smoking cessation measures demonstrates Georgia Mountain Health’s commitment to preventing heart attacks and strokes.
Prioritizing Hypertension Control
With both a self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP) device loaner program and a remote patient monitoring (RPM) program, Georgia Mountains Health aims to help patients improve blood pressure control.
Patients with blood pressure readings exceeding 140/90 mmHg are invited to access devices through a sliding scale payment model and can either keep the cuff for a low cost or elect to return the cuff when their blood pressure measurements have consistently remained within normal levels for two weeks. Blood pressure readings are sent directly from the loaner devices to patient portals through an app. Clinical staff check readings throughout the day and can communicate with patients as needed to make real-time adjustments to medications.
“Georgia Mountains Health is both encouraged and excited by the success of our Blood Pressure Remote Patient Monitoring Program, which has contributed to significant health improvements for our patients with hypertension. This program has empowered individuals with chronic conditions to actively engage in their treatment plans, thereby enhancing their quality of life.”
-Steven Miracle, CEO
Caring for the Whole Patient
In addition to the focus on leveraging more regular blood pressure readings, Georgia Mountains Health introduced a Community Health Worker (CHW) program in March 2024 to provide essential support tailored to individual needs. Since the program’s inception, CHWs have engaged in over 370 patient interactions.
All patients undergo annual risk screenings using PRAPARE assessments; individuals with health-related social needs are referred to CHWs who facilitate connections to critical services such as food resources and transportation assistance. Additionally, CHWs play an integral role in enhancing health literacy and medication adherence and support patient use of RPM initiatives related to blood pressure monitoring and glucose management.
Hear more from Georgia Mountains Health on the latest episode of The Heart of the Matter podcast here.
Congratulations!
Georgia Mountains Health’s commitment to wellness is evident and demonstrates the impact a health system can have on the cardiovascular health of its patients, staff, and community. We are pleased to honor Georgia Mountains Health through the Million Hearts® Hospitals & Health Systems Recognition Program for working systematically to improve the cardiovascular health of those it serves.
Learn more about the Million Hearts® Hospitals & Health Systems Recognition Program and the effective strategies that can be used to prevent cardiovascular events.