THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HYPERTENSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH NUHEALTH’S INSTITUTE OF HEALTH EQUITY, OFFERS FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS AT NUMC, TO ELIMINATE HYPERTENSION AND DISPARITIES IN HEART DISEASE AND STROKE
April 20, 2011
PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HYPERTENSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH NUHEALTH’S INSTITUTE OF HEALTH EQUITY, OFFERS FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS AT NUMC, TO ELIMINATE HYPERTENSION AND DISPARITIES IN HEART DISEASE AND STROKE
FIRST 75 SENIOR ATTENDEES WILL RECEIVE FREE BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORS, WITH PATIENT INFORMATION PAMPHLETS (AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH) AND OTHER GIVEAWAYS
East Meadow, NY… Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the NuHealth System is pleased to announce that the American Society of Hypertension (ASH) in conjunction with NuHealth’s Institute of Health Equity, will offer free blood pressure monitors to the first 75 senior citizens, blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screenings and education to the public to eliminate hypertension and disparities in heart disease and stroke, inviting diverse populations to improve their quality of health. The screening will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Auditorium at the Nassau University Medical Center.
“Untreated high blood pressure is a major cause of death and disability with substantial health consequences, including heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease. We are thrilled to be participating for the first year, with the American Society of Hypertension, in providing our patients with free blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings,” stated Gianelli. “To bring solutions to health centers in communities in need, I commend ASH for complementing its screenings with comprehensive training at our community health centers to strengthen our doctors’ diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive patients or those at high risk.”
ASH continues to combat hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney disease in communities with the launch of its Fourth Annual Hypertension Community Outreach initiative. This comprehensive and innovative public health approach aims to eliminate hypertension by providing free blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screenings and health education to high-risk, underserved individuals to foster detection, prevention and control.
Aloysius B. Cuyjet, MD, MPH, FACC, FACP, and Senior VP & Chief Health Equity Officer, Chairman- Institute for Healthcare Equity, expresses his experience in the program, “In 2008, I participated in ASH’s first Community Outreach event in New Orleans. At the time, I realized that I wanted to bring this type of activity to our often ignored, medically underserved communities, in suburban Nassau County, more importantly our minority populations who suffer more incidents dealing with hypertension and its complications. Fast forward to 2011 and I am pleased that the Institute for Health Equity at NuHealth in partnership with the American Society of Hypertension, Inc., will be conducting such an event at Nassau University Medical Center on May 12th. It is an important step forward for the Institute and for ASH and I look forward to future endeavors.”
During NUMC’s community event on May 12, 2011, the first 75 senior citizen attendees will receive free blood pressure monitors with instructions on use, valued at $75- $100 (donated by HoMedics, Inc. and Omron Healthcare, Inc.) including health screenings, a patient information pamphlet (available in English and Spanish) and other giveaways. The monitors will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis to the first 75 senior citizen attendees.
“While hypertension is the most prevalent cause of stroke and kidney failure, hypertension must be recognized as part of a bigger disease conglomerate, almost always accompanied by obesity, diabetes, kidney disease or many other co-existing problems involving lifestyle and/or genetics,” stated Steven J. Walerstein, MD, FACP, NuHealth’s executive vice president for medical affairs and medical director. “We urge our local community residents to avail themselves of the free screenings and the free blood pressure monitor.”
ABOUT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HYPERTENSION, INC.
The American Society of Hypertension (ASH) is the largest U.S. professional organization of scientific investigators and healthcare professionals committed to eliminating hypertension and its consequences.
INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH EQUITY
NuHealth’s mission to provide great essential care to everyone, at every stage of life means that we have a special responsibility to care for the underserved members of our community. And the reality is, racial and ethnic minorities bear a larger share of disease, injury, premature death and disability in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the race and ethnicity of a patient correlate with both an increased likelihood of medical problems and limited access to care due to a lack of health insurance — a dangerous combination. That is why NuHealth created the Institute for Health Equity — to level the playing field for Long Island and Nassau County by reaching out with programs to address diseases and issues that disproportionately impact minorities
ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.
For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.