GRMC awarded the Target: BP Silver Level Achievement Award

GRMC awarded the Target: BP Silver Level Achievement Award

Hospital earns its 5^th recognition from the American Heart Association for 2022

 (Friday, November 18, 2022; Dededo, Guam) Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) has been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Medical Association (AMA) for its commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning Silver-level recognition as part of the Target: BP initiative.

The Silver award recognizes practices that have demonstrated a commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control through measurement accuracy. GRMC attested to the completion of at least 4 out of 6 evidence-based blood pressure measurements, such as:

1. Use of calibrated BP measurement devices
2. Regularly validate BP devices
3. Strengthen staff knowledge on the accurate measurement of BP every 6-12 months
4. Test the staff’s accurate BP measurement skills every 6-12 months
5. Use guideline-driven BP measurement protocol
6. Increase awareness of accurate BP measurement, such as posting the infographic to every place where blood pressures are taken.

GRMC Outpatient Specialty Services Manager Melliza Young says, “BP measurement is the most common test performed in a clinical setting and is the first step in assessing cardiovascular health. Errors in BP-measurement can be caused by the patient (e.g. caffeine or nicotine use, patient has full bladder), procedure-related (e.g. patient’s arm lower than heart level), equipment-related (e.g. BP cuff too small for the arm), and health professional-related (e.g. having a conversation with patient during measurement). Accurately assessing BP is important because small errors can inappropriately alter management decisions and can have consequences for patients. GRMC is dedicated to reducing these errors through adoption of these evidence-based BP measurement techniques in our outpatient clinics. We also hope that our participation in the Target: BP program will lead to more awareness of the importance of accurate BP measurement, as well as the significance of BP control in the overall reduction of risk for heart disease and stroke.”

Back in May, GRMC was awarded The Joint Commission’s (TJC’s) Gold Seal of Approval for “Advanced Primary Stroke Center” for its excellence in stroke care. Additionally, GRMC was recognized with AHA’s Get With The Guidelines® program for “Stroke SILVER with Target: Stroke Honor Roll”, “Heart Failure GOLD PLUS with Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll”, and “Stroke Bronze”.

To learn more about the Target BP initiative, visit targetbp.org.