October 15, 2024
HOUMA, LA– Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) has received two gold awards from the American Heart Association for its commitment to reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke through cholesterol and blood pressure management.
For the sixth year in a row, as part of the Target: BP™ initiative, CIS has earned Gold Plus recognition for the accuracy of blood pressure management, with controlled blood pressure in more than 84% (LA) and 85% (MS) of hypertensive adult patients, surpassing the target of 70%. High blood pressure is the nation’s number one risk factor for heart attack and stroke, but out of 116 million U.S. adults living with high blood pressure, less than half have it controlled to target level. CIS is one of two sites in Louisiana, and one of three in Mississippi, to receive this designation.
“This accolade underscores our relentless dedication to combating heart disease and improving patient outcomes,” said Dr. Vinod Nair, interventional cardiologist at CIS in Houma, Louisiana. “To achieve this, we implemented comprehensive, evidence-based blood pressure management protocols, with innovative approaches to patient education and engagement.”
In addition, for the third year in a row, CIS also received the Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™ Gold Award for having more than 83% (LA) and 86% (MS) of at-risk cardiovascular disease patients appropriately managed with statin therapy. High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke, but only half of 94 million adults with elevated cholesterol are appropriately managing their condition. CIS is one in seven sites in Louisiana, and 12 in Mississippi, to receive this recognition.
“The impact of these awards represents more than just a recognition,” said Dr. Nair. “They translate to tangible benefits for our patients and community, with reduced risk of cardiovascular events, improved quality of life for patients with these conditions, and decreased healthcare costs for cardiovascular diseases. These awards are truly a testament to the dedication, expertise, and collaborative spirit of the entire CIS team.”
CIS CEO Ryan Hebert emphasized the organization’s proactive approach. “At CIS, we understand the importance of managing risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes,” he said. “To do this, CIS educates and trains our team and implements evidence-based guidelines to provide our patients the very best care.”
“Most patients are unaware of the ‘silent killers’ that we refer to as hypertension and high cholesterol which are such a big result of our Southern diet,” explained Dr. Tom Plavac, CIS interventional cardiologist in Meridian, Mississippi. “Patients and their physicians are partners in managing these potentially harmful but treatable conditions, and we want to help you live a long healthy life.”
Learn more about the importance of managing blood pressure or cholesterol.
Request an appointment today with a CIS cardiologist.