Ellis County Coalition for Health Options and CHPPR Collaborate to Improve Care for Patients with Hypertension
Published: March 30, 2023
UTHealth Houston partner Ellis County Coalition for Health Options provides comprehensive, affordable healthcare services to underserved communities in Ellis County, Texas. The faith-based, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) is collaborating with The Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research (CHPPR) to promote cardiovascular health among patients by providing the Healthy Heart Ambassador program (HHA).
“We care for the whole person by providing quality, patient-centered healthcare that is affordable for those we serve in our community,” said Peggy F Linguist, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Ellis County Coalition for Health Options.
Ellis County Coalition for Health Options offers a variety of services, including primary care, pediatrics, dental care, women’s health, and behavioral health. They are currently expanding their nutrition education efforts and developing a portable food bank to assist patients experiencing food insecurity.
Behavioral Health is a particular focus for the FQHC, which offers programs for smoking cessation, anxiety, parenting, and sleep. By partnering with CHPPR and the American Heart Association on the HHA program, the FQHC aims to improve the care provided to patients dealing with hypertension.
“UTHealth has provided such wonderful support through training our clinical staff, educating our providers, helping to evaluate our data,” said Linguist. “We are excited to be a part of this collaborative effort and grateful for the expertise of our Healthy Heart Ambassadors.”
The Healthy Heart Ambassador Program (HHA), created by the CDC and YMCA, is a unique and effective strategy designed to help participants improve their blood pressure management. Implemented in combination with a Self-Measured Blood Pressure Program (SMBP), the four-month HHA program teaches participants how to accurately measure their blood pressure through routine office hours and support a healthy lifestyle through monthly nutrition education seminars. To date, the UTHealth team has trained over 50 Healthy Heart Ambassadors in Texas, including staff members at Ellis County Coalition for Health Options.
The FQHC is working to join the HHA and SMBP offerings with their diabetes management and other behavioral health offerings. By joining these services, they can help patients deal with multiple contributing co-morbidities and offer more effective care to the patients and their families.
“Now that we have been able to restart the program, we expect better blood pressure control in our population, healthier lifestyle habits, and better nutrition,” said Linguist.
The HHA initiative is part of the “Improving the Health of Americans through Prevention and Management of Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke” project. For more information on Ellis County Coalition for Health Options, visit their website.