Project Title:
Vascular Intervention Project (VIP)
Project Co-Leads:
Kevin L. Thomas, M.D., FACC, FAAC, Duke Division of Cardiovascular Disease/DCRI
Sharon Elliott-Bynum, RN, MSN, Ph.D., Healing with CAARE Inc., Jeanne Lucas Education and Wellness Center
Proposal Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the second leading cause of death in Durham County. Much of this risk is explainable by the prevalence of known risk factors for CVD including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Most risk factors for developing CV disease are modifiable and there is strong evidence that a considerable amount of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and chronic kidney disease is either unrecognized or untreated in Durham County. Contributing factors include inadequate access to primary care, fragmentation of health care resources, poor communication between patients and providers, and ineffective care models for many residents in the community.
To address these challenges, we have assembled a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals and key community stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. Our goal will be to improve CVD and CKD outcomes by addressing health literacy, expanding access to vulnerable populations, improving health care information and communication via personal and electronic health records, and enlisting lay community advocates to facilitate healthy relationships between residents and healthcare providers.
The project will focus on hypertension, hyperlipidemia and chronic kidney disease. Using a novel strategy for detection of risk factors and community based-resources, we plan to improve primary care screening for a broad population of Durham residents. We also plan to implement a tiered chronic care model tailored to an individuals risk to maximize resources and improve cost effectiveness.
Ultimately, we will demonstrate that such a strategy can lead to a reduction in CVD morbidity and mortality and decrease end stage CKD among Durham community residents.
