Esperanza Health Centers among 17 winners of nationwide CDC Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge

Esperanza Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center that operates four primary care clinics on Chicago’s Southwest Side, was recently named a 2019 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge winner by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This year, Esperanza is the only health center in Illinois, and only one of 17 in the nation, to receive this award.

“We are so honored to be one of only 17 health care practices that can call themselves a 2019 Hypertension Control Champion,” said Dan Fulwiler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Esperanza. “It’s amazing how our incredible Esperanza team constantly exemplifies our commitment to keeping our patients healthy, improving their health, and managing their chronic health conditions.”

The Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge is a competition to identify practices, clinicians, and health systems that have worked with their patients to achieve hypertension control rates of at least 80%. The Champions’ stories are intended to inspire other practices and health systems to focus on improving hypertension control, and the lessons learned and shared can offer a path to improved blood pressure control.

Esperanza has joined the ranks of 118 Hypertension Control Champions who have demonstrated success in improving hypertension control among their patients since 2012. The CDC data reveals alarming health disparities in Esperanza’s mostly Latino service area. Compared to communities on Chicago’s North Side, their service area sees disproportionate rates of hypertension of 100% to 200% higher.

“This Challenge has demonstrated that implementing proven, effective, and often inexpensive interventions can lead to better blood pressure control,” said Laurence Sperling, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and executive director of Million Hearts®. “Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Champions are a network and community of dedicated professionals committed to sharing lessons learned and best practices. Importantly, we know that hypertension control prevents heart attacks and strokes and saves lives.”