New Orleans, November 14, 2016— To ensure that the 1 in 3 American adults who are living with high blood pressure better control their condition, the American Heart Association (AHA) today announced a new strategic relationship with YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) that links communities and clinical care to the YMCA's Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program.
The program will leverage the information and resources of Y-USA's existing self-management blood pressure program as well as the Target: BP initiative jointly created last year by the AHA and the American Medical Association.
By focusing on a delivery model that aims to enhance clinical care by creating a direct link to the community, more people with high blood pressure will be connected to resources that help them achieve better health.
Announced at the AHA Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, the AHA and Y-USA have committed over $5 million and other assets of their organizations in this ground-breaking venture to further a common mission to bring science-based resources to underserved communities.
To start, AHA and Y-USA will work together to enhance and promote the clinical integration of the Y's Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program and the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program.
The enhancements will include innovations, led by AHA, to connect clinics with local Ys in 10 cities. As part of this effort, the Y will engage the communities at large, to help at-risk individuals and groups better manage their blood pressure using the most current science-based programs shown to produce better blood pressure control.
Additionally, AHA will use their expertise to support the Y's Healthy Heart Ambassadors, who are program leaders trained by the Y, to better help individuals eat healthier, get physically active, understand the benefits of self-monitoring and learn how to correctly take one's own blood pressure. AHA and Y-USA will work together to evaluate the enhanced clinical integration benefits, and bring lessons learned to a national scale through the Y's network of program providers by 2020.