Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States, making February’s American Heart Month an important opportunity to focus on prevention, early identification, and effective management. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that improving heart health through early detection and consistent primary care can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk.
High blood pressure is one of the most significant and modifiable risk factors for heart disease. While national progress has been made in areas such as smoking cessation and cholesterol management, hypertension remains highly prevalent, particularly among patients with chronic conditions. This highlights the importance of accurate measurement, timely follow-up, patient engagement, and sustained quality improvement efforts in clinical settings.
Health centers across the network continue to demonstrate strong leadership in this work. The Great Plains Health Data Network Clinical Advisory Committee identified blood pressure control as a key clinical priority and set a goal of 65% control by 2026.
This goal was surpassed in 2025 based on 2024 UDS data, which showed that 69% of health center patients with hypertension were meeting blood pressure control targets (<140/90 mmHg). Preliminary data indicate that the network remains on track to achieve this goal again in the current year. This progress reflects the sustained commitment of health center care teams and the impact of focused, data-driven improvement strategies.
Heart Health Resources
