Pacific Medical Group Physicians Honored by AHA
High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer.” The condition can lead to serious health consequences, including heart attack, stroke, vision loss, and kidney failure. The American Heart Association (AHA) is focused on educating patients who have high blood pressure, which includes almost half of those living in the US, many of whom do not even know they have it. The AHA also supports physicians who work with their patients to control their blood pressure.
Together with the American Medical Association (AMA), the AHA is targeting blood pressure with a program that recognizes physicians who have demonstrated “their commitment to improving blood pressure control rates.” Target: BP is a collaborative initiative that “helps health care organizations and care teams, at no cost, improve BP control rates through an evidence-based quality improvement program and recognizes organizations committed to improving BP control.”
Working together to reduce high blood pressure, the AHA and AMA announce that they are “thrilled to recognize these organizations for their efforts and continued support of improving their community’s heart health.” Many of the physicians recently recognized include members of the Pacific Medical Administrative Group (PMAG) who are using Elation Health electronic health records (EHRs) in their practice.
In fact, all physicians using Elation achieved Gold Status, which Recognizes practices that have 70 percent or more of their adult patient population with high blood pressure controlled. Providers on Elation who received this recognition in 2019 include:
- Daven Chun, MD
- Ron Teramoto, MD
- Joseph Madamba, MD
- Melanie Payanal, MD
- Claudine Kimura, MD
- Edwin Yee, MD
- Roger Kimura, MD
On earning the recognition, Dr. Kimura noted, “It was easy. PQH and Elation Health did the reporting for me. Every one of us does our best to help our patients stay healthy. It’s nice for patients to know that the American Heart Association recognizes us for doing our best to help them stay healthy.”
Target: BP noted that “great progress was made during 2018” (the reporting year for 2019 recognition):
- 46% achieved blood pressure control rates of 70% or greater amongst their patient populations.
- Over 75% of the organizations recognized in 2018 were also recognized in 2019.
- 57% of those submitting in 2018 and 2019 improved their BP control rates.
The recognition program is based on the National Quality Forum (NQF) Blood Pressure Control measure #0018 (or NQF 0018/MIPS 236). Target: BP collects total adult patient population (ages 18–85) data by age, sex, race, ethnicity, hypertension diagnosis and blood pressure control from participating providers.
The organization emphasizes the need for physicians and their patients to continue to be proactive about reducing blood pressure, noting that “These achievements will ultimately lead to a reduction in the number of Americans who suffer heart attacks and strokes.”
