Holzer Health System is nationally recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality diabetes care

The American Heart Association presents the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Gold achievement award for commitment to combating heart disease and stroke in patients with Type 2 diabetes. 

Holzer Health System has received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes℠ Gold achievement award for its commitment to addressing the relationship between diabetes and the risk of heart disease and stroke.

About 29.3 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, and an estimated 9.7 million are living with undiagnosed diabetes. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and a major cause of heart attacks, strokes and heart failure for people living with Type 2 diabetes – yet in a survey of people age 45 and older with type 2 diabetes conducted by The Harris Poll, only half recognize their risk or have discussed their risk for heart attacks or strokes with their health care providers.

Target: Type 2 Diabetes addresses heart disease and stroke risk factors in patients with Type 2 diabetes and puts the unparalleled expertise of the American Heart Association to work for health care organizations nationwide, helping ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. The program is part of the American Heart Association's Outpace CVD™ suite of programs advancing outpatient cardiovascular care through technology and quality improvement.

“At Holzer, we care about our patients. That’s why we’ve made a commitment to turn Type 2 diabetes treatment guidelines into lifelines,” said Matt Mossburg, Director, Population Health Services, Holzer Health System. “We are pleased to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our execution of quality care through Target: Type 2 Diabetes. The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”

The Gold achievement award recognizes practices that have fulfilled the Participant criteria AND have met the specified Gold-level thresholds for each of two selected clinical measures related to diabetes control and CVD risk factors, hypertension and high cholesterol.

Each year, program participants apply for achievement award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality outpatient care for people with Type 2 diabetes. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Target: Type 2 Diabetes participants also empower patients with evidence-based information and tools.

“More than 39 million Americans live with diabetes, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for people living with Type 2 diabetes,” said Howard Haft, M.D., MMM, CPE, FACPE, member of the American Heart Association's National Quality Oversight Committee. “Organizations that participate in programs like this help raise awareness of the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and can improve patient outcomes. We are pleased to recognize Holzer for its commitment to quality care.”

Holzer Population Health works with our patients to offer preventative health services, which improves the patient’s health status and promotes healthy outcomes in our communities. Improving population health involves understanding our regional health needs and optimizing solutions and programs for the health of our citizens as defined by those needs.

Holzer Health System, along with other health systems being recognized, will be featured in upcoming Target: Type 2 Diabetes materials. This includes acknowledged at AMA and AHA events throughout the year. For more information on Population Health Services, call 1-855-4-HOLZER.

###

About Target: Type 2 Diabetes^SM

The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building longer, healthier lives, created Target: Type 2 Diabetes to raise awareness and understanding of the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease among patients, caregivers and health care professionals as well as empower patients and caregivers to better manage risk factors. The Target: Type 2 Diabetes program, part of the American Heart Association's Outpace CVD™ suite advancing outpatient cardiovascular care through technology and quality improvement, supports physicians and care teams by offering access to the latest research, guideline-based tools and resources to provide the most up-to-date cardiovascular and Type 2 diabetes management and treatment.

Photo is of (left to right): Matt Mossburg, Director, Population Health Services, Holzer Health System, Diana Briggs, Community Impact Director, Healthcare, American Heart Association, and Jennifer Gaines, LPN, Manager, Operational Improvement & Data Utilization, Holzer Health System.