The Maine CDC Cardiovascular Health Program in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services works to prevent death and disability from heart disease and stroke in Maine. We promote a way of life that supports and includes preventing and controlling risk factors, especially high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, and increasing timely care for heart attacks and strokes. To accomplish this we partner with state and local organizations, educate Maine residents, and offer technical assistance, resources and training to community organizations, health care providers and employers.
Our Vision:
"Heart Healthy and Stroke-Free in Maine"
Program Priorities:
Control high blood pressure (hypertension)
Control high blood cholesterol
Know signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke and need to call 911
Improve emergency response for heart attack and stroke
Improve quality of care related to cardiovascular disease prevention and control
Eliminate disparities related to cardiovascular disease prevention and control
Goals:
Our Program Goal is to reduce death, disability, and health care costs due to heart disease and stroke among Maine citizens.
Programmatic Goals:
Goal 1- Optimize state wide capacity to improve cardiovascular health and prevent and control cardiovascular disease
Goal 2– Prevent development of risk factors
Goal 3– Identify and control risk factors
Goal 4- Optimize response systems to identify and treat acute events
Goal 5 - Optimize care systems to prevent complications, disability and disease progression
Goal 6 - Eliminate disparities in the prevention, detection and treatment of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors
Know Your Numbers Know Your Numbers resources were developed to increase the number of people who know their blood pressure and cholesterol numbers and are actively monitoring and managing them. We partner with local groups such as Healthy Maine Partnerships, Federally Qualified Health Centers and others to deliver the message, Know Your Numbers, through resources into the communities. For more information visit our Know Your Numbers page.
Public Awareness of Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack and Stroke We partner with Maine organizations at the community and State level to increase public awareness of the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke. Recognition of the signs and symptoms and what to do if you or a loved one should suffer from a life-threatening event includes use of 911, as well as CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) where available. Visit our Signs and symptoms page for more information.
Health Care Systems We are working closely with Maine's hospitals, Emergency Medical personnel, Cardiovascular Specialists, Primary Care Physicians, and associated organizations to promote statewide quality improvement and systems development around heart attack and stroke care in Maine.
Maine HeartSafe Communities Maine HeartSafe Communities is a cooperative project of the MCVHP and Maine Emergency Medical Services (EMS). HeartSafe Communities recognizes local efforts to provide strong cardiovascular-related emergency care for residents and visitors, and promotes partnerships between EMS services and community partners to improve overall cardiovascular health and awareness. For more information visit our HeartSafe Communities page.
Worksite Wellness Support The Good Work! Resource Kit was created for use by employers interested in developing low-cost ways to support employee health and productivity. Good Work! provides information on the link between a healthy worksite and the bottom line. Visit our worksite page for other helpful information for worksites.
Promoting the Chronic Care Model We are working closely with Maine health care providers, their office teams, and associated organizations to promote statewide quality improvements and system development around heart disease and stroke prevention and management. The Chronic Care Model provides a unique way to promote system change in health care settings and assures quality of care. The primary goal is the control of patients with hypertension and high blood cholesterol through patient and provider adherence to recognized cardiovascular disease primary and secondary prevention guidelines.
Program activities include:
Addressing cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention and control in partnership with other organizations, such as the American Heart Association, Maine Cardiovascular Health Council, Maine Quality Forum, Maine Pimary Care Association, Governor's Council on Physical Activity, Maine CDC's Physical Activity and Nutrition Program, Maine CDC's Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine and Maine Emergency Medical Services.
Promoting use of evidence-based guidelines for clinicians and hospitals related to blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke
Promoting use of the Chronic Care Model for Maine clinicians and patients through technical assistance and partnerships with State-level organizations
Increasing public awareness of stroke and heart attack signs and symptoms and the knowledge to call 911 through public education
Analyzing public policies related to heart disease and stroke prevention and control
Providing technical assistance for Healthy Maine Partnerships local grantees
Providing technical assistance and developing a resource kit and fact sheets that support heart healthy environments and policies in Maine worksites
Providing training for clinicians, professionals, community members, and teachers to support cardiovascular health
Conducting epidemiological surveillance of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors
Monitoring and evaluating the comprehensive program
