2003 update on the Hypertension Initiative of South Carolina. Bringing South Carolina from "worst to first" in cardiovascular health.

Hypertension and its related comorbidities continue to drain South Carolina of approximately $9 billion dollars a year in direct medical costs and indirectly through lost productivity. Improving control rates of blood pressure and associated cardiovascular risk factors in the primary care physician's office is a fundamental and crucial step to decrease the very high incidence of stroke and cardiorenal diseases. By monitoring prescribing patterns through the Initiatives' data feedback program, providing evidence-based management approaches through educational seminars, and by applying improved treatment protocols, physicians can have a profound impact on outcomes. The growing collaborative partnership spawned by the Hypertension Initiative now includes primary care providers, Hypertension Specialists in the local community, and the ASH Carolinas-Georgia Chapter. The growth and impact of the partnership is facilitated by a dynamic data auditing and feedback program that provides the basis for constructive change focused on optimizing cardiovascular risk factor control in patients across the State. By continuing to make progress in addressing the control of blood pressure and associated cardiovascular risk factors through a growing collaborative partnership with primary care providers statewide, South Carolina can move from worst to first in cardiovascular health. In the future, we hope to add a dynamic health promotion program to active disease management efforts. In the process, South Carolina can move from a leader in cardiovascular disease to a model of cardiovascular health.