The Texas Heart Disease and Stroke Program (HDSP) was awarded two grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These grants allow the Heart Disease and Stroke Program to assist in implementing best practices for the identification and management of high blood pressure and high cholesterol across the state. 

In collaboration with the DSHS Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, the strategies for CDC-RFA-DP18-1815, Improving the Health of Americans through the Prevention and Management of Diabetes and Heart Disease and Stroke, include to:

• Help clinics use electronic health records to find and treat patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• Increase the use of non-physician team members, such as pharmacists, nurses, medical assistants, and community health workers to help patients lower their high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• Promote the role of pharmacists in managing high blood pressure and high cholesterol through medication therapy management (MTM). MTM includes reviewing and adjusting medications to ensure they are beneficial for the patient.
• Help clinics and communities to teach patients with high blood pressure how to monitor and track their blood pressure at home. 
• Help clinics to refer patients with high blood pressure or high cholesterol to community resources to manage their condition. 

For CDC-RFA-DP18-1817, Innovative State and Local Public Health Strategies to Prevent and Manage Diabetes and Heart Disease and Stroke, the strategies include:

• Help clinics use electronic health records to find and treat patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• Use team-based care to manage high blood pressure and high cholesterol by including nurses, medical assistants, community health workers, and pharmacists in care plans. 
• Promote the use of MTM between community pharmacists and primary care providers to manage high blood pressure and high cholesterol and promote lifestyle changes.
• Increase the use of community health workers to help patients manage high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• Create referral pathways to and from the clinic and community resources. These pathways allow physicians to follow up on patients enrolled in high blood pressure and high cholesterol management programs held outside of the clinic. 
• Expand the use of telehealth to help patients manage high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

HDSP staff provide guidance and help to the following organizations and partners in implementing the above strategies in DSHS Public Health Regions 4-8.  

• Northeast Texas Public Health District
• University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy
• University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler
• DSHS Office of Border Public Health, Public Health Region 8

Projects

Texas Hypertension Control Movement  

Since 2018, the HDSP has partnered with the American Heart Association (AHA) to improve blood pressure control for a healthier Texas. The purpose of this collaboration is to bring together clinics and community-based organizations, along with academic institutions, to achieve hypertension control across Texas. This is done by using Target: BP™ and CDC strategies.

GOAL: Achieve >70 percent hypertension control across Texas by 2024.

Regional Hypertension Collaboratives  

The HDSP and AHA support regional hypertension collaboratives across Texas to improve hypertension control rates. At the regional and local levels, leaders from health care and community settings come together to:

• Learn and help achieve hypertension control through Target: BP™ and the M.A.P. framework (M=Measure accurately, A=Act rapidly and P=Partner with patients)
• Connect with local partners
• Share resources to assist patients to control their high blood pressure

Texas Hypertension Control Summit

The HDSP collaborates with the AHA, American Medical Association, and the Chair of the Texas Cardiovascular and Stroke Partnership to host the Texas Hypertension Control Summit. The Summit brings together national experts and Texas leaders to share the latest evidence-based strategies to help improve hypertension in clinical and community settings across Texas.

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