Cardiovascular Health Program
Who We Are

Maine Cardiovascular Health Program

Background

Strategic Plan

Program Updates

Background

In September of 2000 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded the Cardiovascular Disease Infrastructure Grant to the Maine Department of Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (formerly the Maine Bureau of Health).  This grant created the Maine Cardiovascular Health Program (MCVHP), a State of Maine program dedicated to improving the cardiovascular health of Maine people.  Visit their web site for useful information on cardiovascular disease as well as fact sheets.

Strategic Plan

A Strategic Plan for Cardiovascular Health in Maine 2002-2010 was developed by the Maine Cardiovascular Health Program in collaboration with the Maine Cardiovascular Health Council.  This strategic plan was developed to be a tool to inform state and local partners about cardiovascular disease, about what can be done to achieve the vision of "Heart Healthy and Stroke-Free in Maine," and to recruit more partners to join the effort to promote healthy lifestyles.  In 2006, the strategic plan was updated and is available for download at http://www.healthymainepartnerships.org/mcvhp/documents/CVD_Plan_final.pdf.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability for people living in Maine.  We hope this plan will motivate you to think about and implement strategies that promote programs, policies, and environments that help Maine children and adults lead healthier lifestyles.  The continued collaboration of many partners throughout the state will be necessary to achieve 2010 goals and move us forward in becoming a heart healthy and stroke-free Maine.

Program Updates

Supporting Cardiovascular Health in Maine's Worksites
Contact:  Any Spaulding, Worksite Health Manager -- aspaulding@mcd.org

A Worksite Pilot Project was conducted in 2001-2003 to facilitate the development of policy and environmental strategies used by employers to support employee cardiovascular health, with particular emphasis on physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco free lifestyles.  Interventions were developed from information gathered on organizational support for primary and secondary prevention, as well as employee interests, awareness, and self-reported health behaviors.  The report has three components:  1) Findings from the Maine Heart Check Assessment, 2) Findings from the Employee Health Assessment, and 3) Key Informant Interviews.  These sections describe organizational level changes to create a healthier workplace as well as changes in employee self-reported health behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions of their employer.  In addition, key informant interviews describe critical success factors from the perspective of wellness coordinators.  The lessons learned from this pilot were used to create the Good Work resource kit, which offers a collection of information and strategies for supporting employee health.  This kit can be accessed at:  www.healthymainepartnerships.org/MCVHP/resource_good_work_manual.aspx. 

The full evaluation report can be downloaded at the following link:  http://www.healthymainepartnerships.org/downloads/PilotEvalDocument5020.doc.

Improving Care for Patients with Hypertension and High Cholesterol in the Primary Care Setting
Contact:  Elizabeth Foley , CVH Specialist -- efoley@mcd.org

This report describes the change process and implementation activities of four primary care practices participating in the grant "Improving Care for Patients with Hypertension and High Cholesterol in the Primary Care Setting."  The report also documents the results of a survey of the patients who participated in the grant activities within each practice in order to gauge patients' experiences and perceptions of the change process.  The report can be downloaded at the following link:  http://www.healthymainepartnerships.org/downloads/Prover%20Patient%20Eval%20Report%20-.pdf

Through this project, MCVHP awarded funds and provided technical assistance to qualified primary care practice sites to promote system change and assure quality of care and treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease and risk factors.  The primary goal was improved management and control of patients with hypertension and high blood cholesterol through patient and provider adherence to recognized cardiovascular disease primary and secondary prevention guidelines.  The project also tested innovative strategies for assisting providers to work as partners with their patients in a collaborative care process; this included addressing components of the Care Model such as patient self-management through community supports and resources.

Initiatives to Improve Awareness of Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack and Stroke -- Healthy Maine Partnerships Mini-Grants -- Implemented January through December 2005
Contact:  Danielle Louder, CVH Specialist -- dlouder@mcd.org

This report includes information regarding each of the five grantee projects, as well as aggregate project findings, and can be downloaded from the MCVHP website at the following link:  http://www.healthymainepartnerships.org/downloads/ExecutiveSummary-SignsandSymptoms.pdf

The focus of the project was to increase community awareness of the risk factors and warning signs associated with heart attack and stroke, as well as the importance of accessing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) by calling 911 immediately should symptoms be witnessed.  The summary report looks at the types of interventions implemented, including how and where, provides a summary of the findings based on pre and post-education assessments of knowledge, and highlights the experiences and feedback from grantees.

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