APPLETON, WI— Primary Care Associates of Appleton has received three American Heart Association outpatient program achievement awards in recognition for its commitment to reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke by improving high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and blood pressure management. The awards recognize a commitment to following the latest evidence- and science-based care guidelines.
 
Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have some form of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, stroke or heart failure. High cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and uncontrolled high blood pressure are leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but with timely diagnosis, research-based treatment and education, these conditions can be managed.
 
“We are proud to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our focus on Type 2 diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure management and care,” said Ann Taake, Quality Improvement Specialist. “By participating in these programs, we are able to put the science of the latest clinical guidelines to work improving the lives of our patients.”
 
The outpatient achievement award programs put the unparalleled expertise of the American Heart Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Target: BP, Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol., and Target: Type 2 Diabetes programs, Primary Care Associates of Appleton was recognized after demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving risk factor management for patients.
 
This year, Primary Care Associates of Appleton received these achievement awards:

• The American Heart Association’s Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™ Participation
• The American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes℠ Gold
• Target: BP™ Gold recognition jointly presented by the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association.

 
“Addressing Type 2 diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure management is key for better cardiovascular health – and critical today, when heart disease and stroke continue to be leading causes of death for Americans,” said Howard Haft, M.D., MMM, CPE, FACPE, volunteer science expert for the American Heart Association and executive director of the Maryland Primary Care Program, in Baltimore. “The American Heart Association is pleased to recognize Primary Care Associates of Appleton for its commitment to managing patient risk factors related to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.”
 
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About Target: BP^TM
Target: BP™ is a national collaboration between the American Heart Association and American Medical Association to reduce the number of Americans who suffer from heart attacks and strokes each year by urging physician practices, health systems and patients to prioritize hypertension control. The initiative aims to help health care organizations improve blood pressure control rates using evidence-based protocols, tools and resources and recognizes organizations that treat patients with hypertension for achieving blood pressure control rates within the populations they serve.
 
About Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™
The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building longer, healthier lives, created the Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™ initiative with national support from Amgen to improve awareness, detection and management of high cholesterol for consumers, patients and health care professionals. 
 
About Target: Type 2 Diabetes ^SM
The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building longer, healthier lives, created the Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ initiative as a part of the Know Diabetes by Heart™ effort to raise awareness and understanding of the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease among patients, caregivers and health care professionals as well as empower patients and caregivers to better manage risk factors.
 
The Target: Type 2 Diabetes program supports physicians and care teams by offering access to the latest research, tools and resources to provide the most up-to-date cardiovascular and Type 2 diabetes management and treatment.