Partnership for a Heart Healthy Maine

The Partnership for a Heart Healthy Maine is an initiative of the Maine Cardiovascular Health Council and Medical Care Development.  Its goal is to promote partnerships for a comprehensive approach to cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention at the local level. 

	Project Components
	Community Partners
	ME-Cares
	Maine Facts
	Modifiable Risk Factors
	For More Information

Project Components

Helps organize and support community partnerships for cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention.	Provides coordination and technical assistance for integrating cardio- vascular services and resources.
Holds the Governor's Annual Cardiovascular Health Summit.	Increases awareness of the prevalence and costs associated with CVD.
Provides trainings for blood pressure and cholesterol screenings and CVD updates.	Promotes access to cardiovascular prevention services for underserved populations.
Assures access to cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment services by developing and distributing a Resource Directory for each hospital service area.	Assists with the coordination and implementation of ME-Cares, a nurse-physician care support program to improve CVD case management and patient outcomes.

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Community Partnerships

The following are current partners:

 

	Mid-Coast Health and Wellness Council
	Bangor Region CVD Task Force
	Somerset County Cardiovascular Health Task Force
	"Move More" - Waterville
	USM Lifeline Center/Southern Maine Wellness Council
	Tobacco Free L-A
	River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition
	Kittery Chemical Awareness & Prevention (K-CAP)
	Blue Hill Memorial Hospital - Health Education Center
	Mount Desert Island Community Health Plan
	Bucksport High School Outing Club                                                                                                 [back to top]

Maine Facts

	CVD is the leading cause of death, disability, and health care costs.
	Maine age adjusted CVD death rate is 103.1/100,000
	Maine ranks #21 in the U.S. for CVD.
	CVD mortality in 1990 -- 49% (4,533 people -- 535 before age 65).
	In 1998, Maine hospital charges for CVD were $378 million.
	In 1994, diagnosis of heart disease and stroke accounted for 25% of hospital charges.
	24% of adults smoke.
	22% of Maine adults have been told their blood pressure is high.
	31% of Maine adults have not had their cholesterol checked within the past five years.
	55% of adults have a sedentary lifestyle (are inactive or irregularly active).
	53% of adults are overweight.

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Modifiable Risk Factors

	Smoking
	High blood pressure
	High blood cholesterol
	Physical inactivity
	Overweight/obesity
	Poor nutrition
	Control of diabetes                                                                                     [back to top]

For More Information

For more information on the Partnership for a Heart Healthy Maine, contact Saskia Bopp, Project Director at 207-622-7566, ext. 220 or saskiaj@mcd.org  

If you would like further information on the AHA/ACC Practice Guidelines, they are downloadable on the web at: http://www.americanheart.org/Scientific/CME/accaha_guidelines.html 

Downloadable copies of the primary and secondary prevention guidelines are also available on the web at http://www.americanheart.org/Scientific/statements/1997/hguide1.html (primary) and http://www.americanheart.org/Scientific/statements/1995/hguide2.html (secondary).

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Medical Care Development, Inc., 11 Parkwood Drive, Augusta, Maine  04330