Heart 2 Heart:
Increasing Access to Cardiovascular Screenings and Follow Up
Beginning
in 1997,
The
intentions of the changes were three fold.
First, the team wanted to increase the participation of those at high
risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Second, it was important to start referring those targeted individuals
to follow up care resources. Last, the
team wanted to be able to track participation and capture the data in an effort
to prove the effectiveness of such a program.
Environmental Change Initiation
HeartScore
staff were aware of the success of the screenings
every year but had little hard data to prove this success. When Heart 2 Heart was formed through the
receipt of a grant, it seemed natural to expand already existing and successful
programs rather than implement something new.
Grass roots leaders came together and determined a more cohesive approach
to the screenings could work. Local
community data suggested target neighborhoods were at higher risk of not being
screened for cardiovascular disease, having more risk factors and less access
to care.
Public Health Agency Roles
The
Anderson Health Department was the leader in facilitating these changes. The health department received the Heart 2
Heart grant, hired a grant manager and provided staff resources for the
project. Health department staff
participated in the screenings, entered data and coordinated advisory councils
in each target neighborhood. In addition
to these efforts, the health department was able to link the community partners
with state level resources with the State Budget and Control Board’s Office of
Research and Statistics as well as the Department of Health and Environmental
Control’s Division of Cardiovascular Services.
These linkages are providing detailed analysis of the project.
Major Partners
In
addition to the partners mentioned above, the following partners and their
involvement included:
1. The Anderson Health Department – provide data
collection, program coordination and referral follow up.
2. AnMed Health –
provide marketing for screening events, staff events, and fund the lab costs of
processing the cholesterol results.
3. Partners for a Healthy Community/Healthy
People 2010 Coalition – provide staffing, marketing and coordination.
4.
5. MedShore Emergency
Services – volunteers.
6. The Town of Iva –
provide local input, marketing and screening location.
7. Senior Solutions - provide local input,
marketing and screening location.
8.
9.
Official Support
Locally,
many public officials have supported this effort. City council members have expressed
support. The Town of
Results from the Environmental Change
The
Heart 2 Heart team is tracking the impact of the implemented changes. To date, only baseline data has been
collected. In year one (2004) of the
changes, 1060 people participated in the screenings. This was an increase from the year before in
which 650 people participated. Data is
now being captured, which accomplishes one of the primary objectives of this
project. In addition, past data will be
back entered to allow for a retrospective study of the screenings. Anecdotal evidence suggests increased
participation in the highest risk categories and increased referrals to follow
up care. In one small screening (80
screened), three people were identified as having a previously unknown heart
irregularity. All three were immediately
referred to their physicians. In all
three cases, the individuals were admitted to the hospital prior to the
counseling sessions. Observances also
indicate more people are going to their physicians for prescriptions and
care. In the summer of 2005, data from
past years will be entered into the database and compared with the data from
years one and two (2004, 2005). Reminder
cards are now being sent out to all past participants to encourage them to
attend present screenings. This will
help maintain consistent participation from year to year.
Opposition
There was not any opposition to the change. The partners were very excited about the
opportunity the changes gave us and were very willing to help with it in any
way possible. Partners embraced the
objectives and collaborated to meet them.
Local administrators and officials continue to lend support. With that
dual buy-in, policy environmental changes have been steady and progressive. We were very fortunate that everyone involved
saw the bigger picture and was willing to help out.
Lessons Learned
A
major lesson learned for the planning teams is the importance of coordination
and evaluation. The process of
coordinating and following an individual through the healthcare system is at
times, a challenge. It is particularly
challenging to capture referral and follow up information. Also noted is the importance of community
collaborations and partnerships in the success of the screenings.
Submitted By
Kimberly
Tillman, B.S., CHES and Kandi Fredere, MHA, CHES
CVH
Grant Manager, Associate Director of Public Health Community Systems
(864)
260-5676 FAX