This Healthy Environments Active Living (HEAL) Program at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City Utah, is applying for CDC-RFA-DP23-0004, The National Cardiovascular Health Program funding opportunity. The HEAL Program will work to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes by addressing hypertension (HTN) and high blood cholesterol identification and management, including lifestyle factors. The HEAL Program will work with Utah’s 13 local health departments (LHDs) along with clinical and community partners to expand Utah’s Learning Collaborative, the Utah Million Hearts Coalition (UMHC), and develop new projects that aim to reduce health disparities and address social determinants of health (SDOH) in priority populations.
Utah’s 13 LHDs will serve as the primary contractors for Utah’s CVD efforts. Their local expertise and familiarity with community needs will ensure each strategy is tailored to meet the needs of priority populations in each geographic area, as appropriate. With this support, the HEAL Program has the capability to serve all populations and communities within the state proposed in the accompanying work plan. The HEAL Program will partner with LHDs to assist primary care providers in applying evidence-based approaches to hypertension management and cholesterol control, including team-based care, through each of the grant’s three main strategies. Through these partnerships HEAL will increase use of electronic health records (EHRs) or Health Information Technology (HIT) and standardized processes or tools to report, monitor, and track clinical and social services and support needs data to improve detection of healthcare disparities and the identification, management, and treatment of patients at highest risk of CVD. In addition, the HEAL Program aims to increase use of multidisciplinary care teams and communication to improve management and treatment of HTN and high cholesterol. The HEAL Program will identify state and local community resources and assist clinics in increasing referrals to community and lifestyle-based programs. To address the social determinants of health (SDOH), and to ensure the needs of priority populations are met, the HEAL Program implemented a Health Equity Plan.
Throughout the grant period, the HEAL Program will leverage the UMHC, which has over thirty members representing LHDs, primary care clinics, insurance companies, nonprofits, health systems, and other organizations. Throughout year one, the UMHC will increase membership to ensure at least 51% of members represent priority populations to increase multidisciplinary partnerships that address identified barriers to social services and support needs. The HEAL Program will also leverage the state’s CHW Coalition to increase engagement of CHWs to provide a continuum of care extending clinical interventions and addressing social services and support needs. These coalitions act as advisors to ensure grant efforts are strategically aligned and comprehensive in nature. Lastly, the HEAL Program will work with UMHC to increase utilization of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP). Throughout the five years of this grant, all work plan activities will lead to improved outcomes for HTN and high cholesterol.
