Wisconsin NOW and MCW Cardiovascular Research Center Partnership for Cardiovascular Health

Project Summary:

Almost 30% of adults in Wisconsin have high blood pressure, and nearly half of these patients report that their blood pressure is not properly controlled below the recommended levels. Amongst the 50 states within the United States, Wisconsin ranks poorly in this area. High blood pressure significantly increases damage to the blood vessels and strains the heart, increasing the risk for heart attack, stroke, arrhythmias, and heart failure. AHW's Wisconsin Now (WIN) will implement a team-based, guideline-directed approach to lower blood pressures in individuals with hypertension. WIN, using newly developed educational resources supported by this proposal, will leverage home-based blood pressure readings and remote communication with the medical record to allow pharmacists (operating under collaborative agreements with physicians) and community health workers to actively manage and lower the blood pressure of program participants. The Cardiovascular Research Center and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin seeks to strengthen the WIN initiative by providing support for (1) the hiring of personnel who will provide oversight and management over this important initiative to improve blood pressure control in southeast Wisconsin; and (2) provide the resources necessary for the creation and dissemination of WIN educational materials. Hires will include (1) a professor who is an established researcher and cardiologist who has extensive experience with organizing quality care initiatives at a state level; (2) a clinical implementation manager to support management, implementation, and execution of WIN; and (3) a part-time external consultant for guidance. Together, this team will lead the creation and dissemination of educational materials for recruitment and study participant education, and they will coordinate the successful execution of WIN to reduce the incidence of heart attacks and strokes in Wisconsin.