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Information for Health-Care Providers

Working Together

Studies show patients value advice from their health-care providers; therefore, health-care providers have a unique opportunity to influence their patients' health habits. In addition to providing treatment, health-care providers can partner with patients in risk factor and disease prevention as well as reducing existing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
 

Providers can have a significant impact on their patients' health by educating and counseling patients to:

  • Monitor and control their blood pressure and cholesterol.
  • Know the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke and the need to call 9-1-1.
  • Set goals and make healthy lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, getting regular physical activity, eating a heart-healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Participation in clinical practice improvement initiatives can support health-care providers in addressing overall systems change. Improving delivery of care and integrating evidenced-based guidelines in treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease and CVD risk factors will have a substantial impact on the quality of care in a clinical practice.