Association of Black Cardiologists National Physicians’ Network

12.1. Reduce coronary heart disease deaths.

12-6. Reduce hospitalizations of older adults with heart failure as the principal diagnosis.

12-10. Increase the proportion of adults with high blood pressure whose blood pressure is under control.

12-14. Reduce the proportion of adults with high total blood cholesterol levels.

Prevent Development of Risk Factors

Through population and clinical approaches, increase the percentage of children and adults who engage in heart-healthy behaviors to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Detect and Treat Risk Factors

Increase the percentage of patients who have their CVD risk factors detected and who implement lifestyle and/or pharmacologic intervention and successfully control their blood pressure and cholesterol levels and weight to prevent the development of CVD.

Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndromes

Increase the percentage of the public, including specified target groups (e.g., women, minorities, etc.) and providers, who recognize the symptoms and signs of acute coronary syndromes and seek timely and appropriate evaluation and treatment.

Prevent Recurrence and Complications of Cardiovascular Disease

Increase the percentage of CVD patients who are treated appropriately with lifestyle changes and drugs, and who reach goal LDL cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and successfully control their weight and other CVD risk factors to reduce CVD events.

1. To show a trend of increased public speaking activities by members of the National Physicians' Network (NPN).

2. To have at least two of the four historically black medical schools adopt the NPN Speakers' Kit and show evidence of its use during rounds or other basic and continuing education activities.

3. To have NPN member express satisfaction in using the Web site to obtain slides and other support.

4. To offer at lease 10 hours' of Web-based interactive continuing education programs to doctors and nurses.

The NHLBI awarded a contract to the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) to provide continuing education opportunities health professionals who provide health care to African Americans. The ABC subsequently recruited the National Black Nurses' Association and National Medical Association to broaden the scope of the project.

The project has two components: the National Physicians' Network (NPN) and Web-based interactive continuing education programs. The NPN is a group of physicians formed by the NHLBI in 1995 to make presentations in community, academic, and professional settings. The Web-based continuing education component will feature case studies on aspects of cardiovascular disease where race is an important consideration.