The Conrad Prebys Foundation grants Neighborhood Healthcare $50,000 for high blood pressure initiative
– Funds to provide SMART Blood Pressure monitoring equipment to patients with uncontrolled hypertension –
ESCONDIDO, Calif. (January 11, 2022) – Neighborhood Healthcare, a regional Federally Qualified Health Center providing a wide range of health services, announced today that it will expand its services to patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
The Conrad Prebys Foundation’s $50,000 grant will allow the non-profit to provide SMART Blood Pressure monitoring equipment to individuals suffering from hypertension.
“We intend to serve at least 2,500 patients per year over the next two years,” said Michelle Hughes, PharmD Director of Quality & Population Health at Neighborhood Healthcare. “Our goal is to improve patients’ heart health from a collective 56 percent control rate to 80 percent in that time. We’re grateful to the Conrad Prebys Foundation for supporting this as part of our mission to provide quality, compassionate, whole-person care to everyone regardless of circumstance.”
The SMART Blood Pressure system includes testing and monitoring machines with electronic hubs that can directly transmit real-time blood pressure readings to the patient’s Primary Care Provider. Neighborhood Healthcare practitioners will use the data to create individualized treatment plans, adjust medication as needed, encourage lifestyle adjustments such as diet and exercise, and provide counseling for patients struggling to stay on track with their hypertension management.
Moreover, this initiative will help the non-profit address any other factors affecting the health of patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure, such as housing, food and employment insecurity, through its work with other agencies.
An estimated 103 million U.S. adults – nearly half of the country’s adult population –
have high blood pressure, according to 2018 statistics from the American Heart Association. According to the Mayo Clinic, hypertension can lead to disability, poor quality of life, or even a fatal heart attack or stroke.
“The last 18 months have highlighted the critical importance of having equitable access to quality health care and health education,” said Erin Decker, director of grantmaking at The Conrad Prebys Foundation. “The Foundation is honored to have a role in ensuring these organizations have the resources and tools they need to promote the overall wellbeing of our community members.”
The Conrad Prebys Foundation was established by real estate entrepreneur Conrad Prebys to perpetuate his commitment to philanthropic endeavors. The Conrad Prebys Foundation inspires transformational change by funding projects in alignment with Conrad Prebys’ legacy interests and continuing his efforts that spark meaningful advancement in our communities. For more information, visit www.ConradPrebysFoundation.org.
About Neighborhood Healthcare
Neighborhood Healthcare provides quality, compassionate, whole-person care to everyone, regardless of their circumstance, throughout San Diego and Riverside Counties. We go above and beyond in serving those in need with high integrity, professionalism, and in the spirit of collaboration, just as we did when founded more than 50 years ago. In doing so, we dedicate ourselves to improving community health so everyone can live happy and healthy lives.