Million Hearts^® Hypertension Control Challenge seeks nominations

The Million Hearts^® Hypertension Control Challenge is seeking nominations of physicians and practices that have demonstrated exceptional achievements in controlling hypertension. Clinicians, practices, and health systems that provide primary care and have achieved hypertension control rates greater than 70% are eligible to enter. The Challenge is open through Oct. 10, 2014.

Million Hearts^®, the national initiative launched in 2011 by the Department of Health and Human Services to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017, claims that the number of Americans who have high blood pressure has increased dramatically in the past decade and nearly 1,000 people die each day in the United States as a result of high blood pressure-related illnesses.

The 2014 Hypertension Control Champions will be announced on the Million Hearts^® website in February 2015. More information on eligibility requirements is online. Questions about the challenge should be directed to millionhearts@cdc.gov with “Challenge” in the subject line.