OhioHealth Physician Group Achieves Top Recognition From the American Heart Association for Hypertension, Cholesterol, and Diabetes Control Initiatives

OhioHealth Physician Group (OPG) has been honored with GOLD+ recognition by the American Heart Association (AHA) in the 2024 Target: BP initiative for its efforts in achieving and maintaining high blood pressure control for patients. OPG also earned GOLD recognitions in the Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol and Target: Type 2 Diabetes programs, making it the only Central Ohio organization to secure gold status across all three areas.

“This recognition is about more than awards; it’s about keeping people healthier for longer and helping them avoid future complications,” said Kathleen Provanzana, MD, Medical Director of Quality and Patient Safety at OhioHealth. “Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, so improving care for diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure is essential for adding good years to life. You can have a heart attack or stroke and survive, but life after isn’t the same. Achieving these benchmarks gives patients a better chance to enjoy long, healthy lives.”

Dr. Provanzana attributes these achievements to the dedication of providers and the quality improvement team.

“Our providers are doing the heavy lifting in each patient visit,” Dr. Provanzana said. “The quality team provides tools and resources, but the real work happens in conversations between providers and patients every day. It’s about addressing issues now for long-term health benefits, even when the payoff may be years down the line.”

The AHA’s “silent killer” label for hypertension reflects a common challenge: most patients don’t feel symptoms from high blood pressure, so they may not prioritize medications or lifestyle changes.

“You have to be motivated by the bigger picture, knowing that you’re helping someone add years to their life. It’s challenging; there aren’t immediate rewards, but in the long run, it makes all the difference,” Dr. Provanzana said.

Meredith Buffum, OhioHealth Advisor for Quality and Patient Safety, explained that these initiatives, rooted in the AHA’s Million Hearts campaign, aim to reduce heart disease by focusing on interconnected risk factors.

“The goal is to continually improve patient care—addressing blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes all contribute to a more comprehensive approach to heart health,” Buffum said. “Our patient population continues to grow as OhioHealth grows. It’s all about making sure that we’re getting our patients in to be seen and addressing all aspects of their health.”

This recognition, she explained, reflects OhioHealth’s evolving approach to quality care, focused on supporting patients long-term by meeting them where they are, whether through in-person visits or virtual consultations.

OhioHealth has also expanded its commitment to health equity through an AHA-supported learning collaborative. This program focused on health equity in hypertension control utilizes grant funding to support initiatives with the OhioHealth Graduate Medical Education practices in Franklin County. Through this collaboration, OhioHealth and other regional healthcare organizations are working closely with community partners, such as the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and the Ohio Hispanic Coalition, to reach underserved populations with educational and preventative resources.

While OhioHealth celebrates these achievements, leaders are clear that this milestone is part of a larger, ongoing mission.

“We’re proud to be at 70% control, but that still leaves room to reach the remaining 30%, of patients” said Dr. Provanzana. “We’re always working to improve, because as a healthcare organization, the goal is to keep raising the bar and doing better for our patients.”