Program Highlights:

New! Resources for Screeners: These guides quickly go through the steps of taking an accurate blood pressure and cholesterol and suggested follow-up

Blood Pressure Quick Guide for Screeners (PDF)
Cholesterol Quick Guide for Screeners (PDF)

Know Your Numbers
Know Your Numbers resources were developed to increase the number of people who know their blood pressure and cholesterol numbers and are actively monitoring and managing them. We partner with local groups such as Healthy Maine Partnerships, Federally Qualified Health Centers and others to deliver the message, Know Your Numbers, through resources into the communities. For more information visit our Know Your Numbers page.

Public Awareness of Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack and Stroke
We partner with Maine organizations at the community and State level to increase public awareness of the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke. Recognition of the signs and symptoms and what to do if you or a loved one should suffer from a life-threatening event includes use of 911, as well as CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) where available. Visit our Signs and symptoms page for more information.

Health Care Systems
We are working closely with Maine's hospitals, Emergency Medical personnel, Cardiovascular Specialists, Primary Care Physicians, and associated organizations to promote statewide quality improvement and systems development around heart attack and stroke care in Maine.

Maine HeartSafe Communities
Maine HeartSafe Communities is a cooperative project of the MCVHP and Maine Emergency Medical Services (EMS). HeartSafe Communities recognizes local efforts to provide strong cardiovascular-related emergency care for residents and visitors, and promotes partnerships between EMS services and community partners to improve overall cardiovascular health and awareness. For more information visit our HeartSafe Communities page for more information.

Worksite Wellness Support
The Good Work! Resource Kit was created for use by employers interested in developing low-cost ways to support employee health and productivity. Good Work! provides information on the link between a healthy worksite and the bottom line. Visit our worksite page for other helpful information for worksites.

Promoting the Chronic Care Model
We are working closely with Maine health care providers, their office teams, and associated organizations to promote statewide quality improvements and system development around heart disease and stroke prevention and management. The Chronic Care Model provides a unique way to promote system change in health care settings and assures quality of care. The primary goal is the control of patients with hypertension and high blood cholesterol through patient and provider adherence to recognized cardiovascular disease primary and secondary prevention guidelines.

Program activities include:

Addressing cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention and control in partnership with other organizations, such as the American Heart Association, Maine Cardiovascular Health Council, Maine Quality Forum, Maine Pimary Care Association, Governor's Council on Physical Activity, Maine CDC's Physical Activity and Nutrition Program, Maine CDC's Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine and Maine Emergency Medical Services.

Promoting use of evidence-based guidelines for clinicians and hospitals related to blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke

Promoting use of the Chronic Care Model for Maine clinicians and patients through technical assistance and partnerships with State-level organizations

Increasing public awareness of stroke and heart attack signs and symptoms and the knowledge to call 911 through public education

Analyzing public policies related to heart disease and stroke prevention and control

Providing technical assistance for Healthy Maine Partnerships local grantees

Providing technical assistance and developing a resource kit and fact sheets that support heart healthy environments and policies in Maine worksites

Providing training for clinicians, professionals, community members, and teachers to support cardiovascular health

Conducting epidemiological surveillance of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors

Monitoring and evaluating the comprehensive program