Meet the Investigators Awardee Target Population Proposed Strategy Anticipated Outcome HSA-Level Statistics Gregory Clarke, M.D., Spokesperson  Video Clip:  [Download the RealOne player] Principal Investigator: Gregory Clarke, M.D. Primary Contact: Patricia H. White, Administrator Phone: (304) 343-7003, Ext. 11 Fax: (304) 343-7009 E-mail: healthrigh@aol.com

Awardee

The Healthy Heart Project
West Virginia Health Right, Inc.
Charleston, West Virginia

Target Population

The project's target population includes patients attending West Virginia Health Right, a free, primary care clinic serving the uninsured and underinsured poor in south central West Virginia.

Proposed Strategy

This project will use a clinic-based approach to improve the cardiovascular health and quality of life of West Virginia Health Right patients. Specifically, the project will track and compare two groups—medical/behavioral treatment group vs. medical treatment only group—of Health Right patients with risk factors for heart disease. Strategies include:

1. Conducting screenings for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and implementing and monitoring medical/behavioral interventions.
2. Conducting educational and counseling sessions on the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and stroke with patients who have CVD risk factors.
3. Developing and implementing a women's heart health program designed to increase knowledge of CVD and stroke.

The proposed strategies will focus on all four National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute performance goals:

• Prevent development of risk factors.
• Detect and treat risk factors.
• Recognize and treat acute coronary syndromes early.
• Prevent recurrence and complications of CVD.

Anticipated Outcome

The anticipated outcomes of this project are:

Medical/behavioral treatment group (compared medical treatment only group)

• Decreased number of patients with risk factors.
• Increased number of patients seeking medical treatment.
• Decreased number of patients with high blood pressure.
• Increased number of patients with controlled blood pressure.
• Increased number of patients using 911 emergency systems.
• Increased knowledge among female patients of CVD and stroke.
• Increased self-efficacy among female patients regarding taking appropriate action to prevent heart disease or stroke.
• Increased number of patients with controlled blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg).
• Decreased use of blood pressure medication therapy.
• Increased number of patients with blood cholesterol levels less than 200 mg/dL.
• Reduced number of hospital admissions and emergency department visits for CVD events.