NJPCA: New Jersey's Federally Qualified Health Centers Alert Women to Heart Disease on National Wear Red Day
Posted on: Friday, 4 February 2005, 15:00 CST
PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients and visitors to any one of the twenty (20) Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) located throughout New Jersey saw red today when they walked through the doors of their local health center. No, they weren't experiencing eye trouble, but rather they were witness to the more than 20 health centers' support of National Wear Red Day, recognized today, February 4th. National Wear Red Day is a program of the American Heart Association and is part of a nationwide movement to bring attention to the issue of women's heart disease.
"I am very pleased that New Jersey FQHCs are participating in this initiative. It's important that the local health centers take the lead in making their communities aware of health issues which effect Black and Latina women at higher rates. The FQHCs have the expertise to help women understand and manage their heart disease risk factors as part of the preventive and primary care services they provide to patients," advised Kathy Grant-Davis, executive director of the New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA). NJPCA advocates on behalf of FQHCs and provides communications, clinical and training support to staff and clinicians.
Staff at all FQHCs wore red clothing to create a visual alert and to encourage inquiries from patients and visitors. They informed patients and visitors that it was National Wear Red Day and encouraged same-day health screenings or return visits. Staff distributed special appointment cards, Red Dress pins (adopted as the national symbol for women and heart disease), red ribbons, brochures and heart disease action plans in both Spanish and English. Additional activities included nutritional counseling, screenings for diabetes and high blood pressure and cardiovascular education at Hudson County's Jersey City Family Health Center.
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death among women and few women are aware of their personal risks factors. The disease is disproportionately prevalent among Black and Latina women who report a higher incidence of six manageable risk factors:
-- High blood cholesterol
-- High blood pressure
-- Tobacco smoke
-- Physical inactivity
-- Obesity or overweight
-- Diabetes
New Jersey's twenty (20) FQHCs serve more than 235,000 patients at 78 primary care sites in thirteen (13) counties throughout New Jersey. These sites provide access to primary health care for all New Jerseyans regardless of their ability to pay. Media and consumers can locate a local health center by calling 1.800.328.3838 or visiting http://www.njpca.org/.
Materials distributed today were provided by the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute who have joined together to fight heart disease in women through their Go Red for women and The Heart Truth campaigns. Both campaigns incorporate the Red Dress symbol and the color red in activity throughout the year.
Contact: Stephanie Clark
609.275.8886, x20
Saundra Heath
212.427.2509
New Jersey Primary Care Association
CONTACT: Stephanie Clark, +1-609-275-8886, x20, or Saundra Heath,+1-212-427-2509, both for New Jersey Primary Care Association
Web site: http://www.njpca.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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