Press Releases

NYC Health + Hospitals Nationally Recognized for Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cholesterol Control

Four of the health system’s sites were recognized by the federal government as 2024 Hypertension Control Champions; only six sites in New York State received this award in 2024

Nov 27, 2024

NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that four of its sites were recognized by Million Hearts, a national initiative co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), as 2024 Hypertension Control Champions. The sites – NYC Health + Hospitals/ Elmhurst; NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health; NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Belvis; and NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland – were able to achieve blood pressure control for at least 80% of their adult patients with hypertension. Only six sites in New York State received this award in 2024, and a total of 25 sites in New York State have ever achieved the recognition. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a leading contributor to heart disease and stroke, affecting millions of adults across the United States.

In addition, the American Heart Association recognized several sites across NYC Health + Hospitals with awards for diabetes, cholesterol, and hypertension control. Twenty-two of the health system’s primary care sites, all 11 hospitals and 11 of the primary care sites, received the 2024 Target: BP Gold + award, the highest level award, for achieving blood pressure control for at least 70% of their patients. Twenty-three of the health system’s primary care sites also received the 2024 Type 2: Diabetes Gold award, the highest possible award, for having met high thresholds for diabetes control and cardiovascular disease risk factors, hypertension, and cholesterol management. The twenty-three primary care sites also received the 2024 Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol Gold award, the highest possible award, for having at least 70% of their adult patient population at risk of cardiovascular disease on statin therapy.

“One of my goals when I came to NYC Health + Hospitals was to focus more on primary care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Preventing, treating and controlling chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes is the cornerstone of primary care. I am incredibly proud of all of our sites for what they have accomplished in their quality of care for these conditions in recent years.”

“Our population has a high prevalence of chronic conditions. We have developed an incredible toolkit for the front lines to be able to provide the best quality of care for these chronic conditions,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer Nichola Davis, MD, MS. “We’ve made it simple to get tested during your primary care appointment. If you have any of these conditions, you’ll have a team of people on your side to help you achieve your treatment goals, including your provider and nurse as well as additional support from a clinical pharmacist, dietitian, or community health worker.”

“Our clinical teams work hard every day to support our patients with hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Assistant Vice President of Chronic Disease and Prevention Karyn Singer, MD, MPH. “Over the past few years the number of tools at our disposal has expanded, including clinical pharmacists, dedicated nursing programs, and adding home blood pressure measurement to our Electronic Health Record. We have also worked hard to decrease barriers for patients such as providing free blood pressure monitors for patients who can’t afford them and incorporating telehealth into chronic disease management.”

“We’re honored to be recognized as a 2024 Hypertension Control Champion,” said Svetlana Lipyanskaya, Chief Executive Office of NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our team in providing comprehensive, patient-centered care to manage hypertension and other chronic conditions. We’re committed to improving health outcomes and reducing disparities in South Brooklyn by ensuring all our patients have access to the resources, support, and care they need to achieve better health and well-being.”

“This has truly been a collaborative effort of all of the team members in our practice,” said Dr. Marlon Brewer, Chief of the Medical Primary Care Clinic at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. “We are excited about achieving better outcomes for our patient population and are extremely honored by this recognition.”

“Being recognized as a 2024 Hypertension Control Champion is as testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health,” said Michelle Lewis, CEO of NYC Health+ Hospitals/Gotham Health. “This achievement reflects our commitment to ensuring that all of our patients have access to comprehensive, high-quality care, especially when managing chronic conditions like hypertension.”

The results highlight the high standard of care across primary care at NYC Health + Hospitals, including the following programs:

• Clinical Pharmacists in Primary Care – Clinical pharmacists are integrated members of primary care teams to help patients with chronic disease manage their medications.
• Treat to Target – An intensive nurse-led hypertension and diabetes management primary care program for patients who are above their target.
• Chronic Disease Outreach – Nurses and outreach staff contact over 1,000 patients each month with high blood pressure or diabetes to keep them engaged in primary care, with a focus on patients who are uncontrolled and do not have an upcoming visit scheduled.
• Public Health Corps Community Health Workers – Community Health Workers meet regularly with patients to identify and address social barriers to health and well-being, such as housing, financial, food, and legal needs, as well as helping them schedule healthcare appointments and coordinate transportation.
• Teleretinal Screening in Primary Care – Primary care sites offer teleretinal screenings as part of a routine visit for patients with diabetes, instead of requiring a separate ophthalmology appointment.
• Text Messages and Support for Insulin Adjustment – The text-based program optimizes insulin dosing for patients who are on insulin.
• In-person Educational Support in Primary Care – This includes diabetes classes, one-on-one sessions, patient support groups, and dietitian support.
• Lifestyle Medicine – The Lifestyle Medicine Program’s team supports patients in making evidence-based lifestyle changes, including a healthful plant-based diet, increased physical activity, improved sleep habits, stress reduction, avoidance of substance use, and stronger social connections. Adults living with prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or health concerns related to excess weight are eligible to enroll.

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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.