#StrokeAwareness – Highlighting the Heart/Stroke Recognition Program
May 31, 2018 · NCQA Communications
My family has a long history of heart disease and stroke. In fact, my uncle had a mild stroke recently that impaired his vision. He couldn’t perform some simple tasks for weeks—he couldn’t drive, or even watch TV.
Nearly 85 million Americans have heart disease or have had a stroke. Together, they are the leading cause of death in the United States.
As Stroke Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to bring NCQA’s Heart and Stroke Recognition Program (HSRP) to your attention. The program recognizes doctors and group practices that deliver high-quality care to people with cardiovascular disease or who have had a stroke.
Since its inception in 2003, the program has recognized more than 3,000 clinicians. To qualify, they must have a valid license to practice, treat patients with ischemic vascular disease (IVD) and have the ability to collect certain data on sample IVD patient populations.
Doctors who apply for recognition and meet qualifications are scored on their use of a specific set of performance measures. They include controlling blood pressure, use of aspirin or other anti-platelets, BMI screenings and statin therapy for patients with cardiovascular disease.
Why seek this recognition?
For one, The American Board of Family Medicine offers maintenance of certification credit to those who are recognized. Additionally, as concern over the cost and quality of health care in the United States grows, so does the demand for initiatives that use performance measures to encourage high-quality care. HSRP encourages standardization of performance measurement for heart disease and stroke, while acknowledging clinicians who demonstrate high levels of performance.
NCQA knows that by encouraging both primary care and specialty doctors to earn HSRP recognition, care will improve. That directly benefits the patient.
To learn about how you or your practice can earn NCQA HSRP Recognition, visit our website.
