KentuckyOne Health Joins Million Hearts Initiative to Improve Heart Health - Archived
KentuckyOne Health Joins Million Hearts Initiative to Improve Heart Health
Facilities offer opportunity to pledge dedication to heart health
Louisville, Ky. (July 2, 2014)—KentuckyOne Health facilities throughout the area are participating in the Million Hearts ® program to increase awareness of heart disease and prevent heart attacks.
The national campaign, launched by the Department of Health and Human Services in September 2011, aims to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. The initiative brings together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations and private sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke. The program offers advice and awareness on the modifiable factors that increase one’s risk of heart attack, like diet, exercise and concurrent diseases like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Individuals can help reach this goal as a nation by pledging to Be One In A Million Hearts®. This pledge costs nothing, but rather is a verbal commitment to take the needed steps to live a healthier heart lifestyle.
“So many patients don’t know that they are at risk for heart disease and stroke,” said Mark Slaughter, M.D., executive director of cardiovascular services for the KentuckyOne Health Louisville market, Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Louisville. “Simple steps like taking aspirin, controlling your blood pressure, managing your blood pressure and quitting smoking can have an immediate and positive impact on your risk for heart attack and stroke.”
As part of the initiative, KentuckyOne Health facilities throughout the area will host a series of informational events, giving individuals an opportunity to make their pledge to Be One In A Million Hearts®. Upcoming events will be held at Medical Center Jewish South on July 10, 2014 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and at Medical Center Jewish Northeast on July 11, 2014 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Awareness events have already been held this summer at Flaget Memorial Hospital, Jewish Hospital, Medical Center Jewish East, Medical Center Jewish Northeast, Medical Center Jewish Southwest, Jewish Hospital Shelbyville, Our Lady of Peace, Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital and University of Louisville Hospital, all part of KentuckyOne Health.
About KentuckyOne Health
KentuckyOne Health was formed when two major Kentucky health care organizations came together in early 2012. KentuckyOne Health combines the Jewish and Catholic heritages of the two former systems – Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare and Saint Joseph Health System. In late 2012, the organization formed a partnership with the University of Louisville Hospital | James Graham Brown Cancer Center. The nonprofit system is committed to improving the health of Kentuckians by integrating medical research, education, technology and health care services wherever patients receive care. KentuckyOne Health has more than 200 locations including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies across the state of Kentucky and southern Indiana.
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Publish date:
Wednesday, July 02, 2014