The AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation’s Connections for cardiovascular health program is awarding a grant of $204,435 to North Georgia HealthCare Center to support its POWER program, which works to improve cardiovascular health in the community. This is the second consecutive year in which North Georgia HealthCare Center has received a grant from the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation, totaling $379,435.
POWER (Patient Outreach with Educational Resources) aims to provide testing and education to help prevent, diagnose and treat diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease among underserved residents in North Georgia HealthCare Center’s area. The program brings these free services directly to participants in their communities.
“It is with much gratitude to the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation that we are able to continue our POWER program that provides health testing, monitoring, education, and prevention tools to our community. Without them, this blessing to our community would not be possible,” said DeLaine Hunter, practice director for North Georgia HealthCare Center. “This year we are adding a telehealth component, partnering with Georgia Partnership for Telehealth. With this addition, patients will have access to specialists, including cardiologists. We are very excited to be the first in Northwest Georgia to be able to offer this type of assistance.”
As a result of previous funding from the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation, the program tracked the progress of more than 1,000 participants and saw positive results for both clinical and behavioral outcomes. Average Body Mass Index (BMI) decreased by just over two points and glucose decreased by an average of more than 20 points. For these same participants, nutrition knowledge increased from an average of 72 percent at pre-test to an average of 90 percent at post-test.
“Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death in the United States, which is why we must find new ways to help prevent and decrease the risks associated with this disease,” said James W. Blasetto, MD, MPH, FACC, chairman of the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation. “The AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation is proud to provide funding to North Georgia HealthCare Center’s innovative program to help improve cardiovascular health in their community.”
The Connections for Cardiovascular Health program annually awards grants to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations across the country. More than $2.6 million in grants to 13 organizations will be announced this year. More than $17 million in grants have been awarded through the program since its inception in 2010. In 2015, the Connections for Cardiovascular Health Program will award grants from $150,000 to $180,000.
Organizations can learn more and apply online for a Connections for Cardiovascular Health grant at www.astrazeneca-us.com/foundation. Applications must be submitted online no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 26.