2012 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Andrew Wineke
Centura Health
Manager, strategic communications
303-804-8222 (desk) 303-204-4990 (cell)
AndrewWineke@centura.org

CHPG joins national “Measure Up, Pressure Down” campaign

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Nov. 29, 2012 – Centura Health Physician Group, one of Colorado’s largest multispecialty practices, has joined the American Medical Group Foundation’s “Measure Up, Pressure Down” campaign.

High blood pressure is one of our nation’s most serious health care challenges. Left untreated, it can lead to heart attacks and strokes and require repeated hospitalizations and costly treatments. The good news is that there are many relatively simple, inexpensive steps people can do to reduce their blood pressure and prevent these serious complications.

The American Medical Group Foundation’s “Measure Up, Pressure Down” campaign challenges medical groups to adopt one or more evidence-based care processes and to work toward achieving the campaign goal of 80 percent of patients in control by 2016. “In control” is defined as blood pressure below 140/90 for uncomplicated hypertension patients and under 130/80 for hypertension patients with diabetes.

The “Measure Up, Pressure Down” campaign will work in concert with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ “Million Hearts” initiative to reduce heart attacks and strokes in five years. CHPG is joining the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic and more than 120 other leading medical groups and health systems in the initiative.

While CHPG physicians and providers are already committed to keeping their communities healthy, the “Measure Up, Pressure Down” campaign’s goals will increase the focus on high blood pressure and provide evidence of the positive effect a concerted effort can have on a population’s health.

FACTS AND STATS:

• One in three (68 million) U.S. adults has high blood pressure and less than half of patients have it adequately controlled.
• Without major changes, by 2030, more than 100 million adults will have high blood pressure, resulting in staggering increases in health care costs, disability and lost productivity for the U.S.
• High blood pressure contributes to nearly 1,000 deaths a day and accounts for an estimated $156 billion in healthcare services, medications and lost productivity.

QUOTES:

• “Centura Health Physician Group is dedicated to not just caring for our patients, but actively working to improve the health of the communities we serve,” said Dr. Allen Kemp, president and CEO of CHPG. “Joining the AMGF’s ‘Measure Up, Pressure Down’ campaign commits our physicians and providers to doing everything they can to help people keep themselves healthy and out of the hospital.”

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About Centura Health

Centura Health, Colorado’s health care leader, is focused on connecting Coloradans to affordable, world-class care in every corner of the state. Centura Health’s integrated statewide network includes 13 hospitals, seven senior living communities, medical clinics, affiliated partner hospitals, Flight For Life® Colorado, and home care and hospice services. Approximately 15,100 of the best hearts and minds in medicine, along with 6,000 physician partners, have access to the most technologically advanced tools available. For Coloradans, this means the top expertise and technology is right where you need it – close to where you are. We reach beyond hospital walls to connect with people at every stage of life to bring them life-enriching compassion and life-affirming hope; Connections that only Centura Health can make. For information on Centura Health or any of the facilities in our network, please visit www.centura.org.