Title : Promoting cardiovascular health through collaborative, service line community outreach
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease prevention requires effective community engagement; however, many outreach efforts lack the structure, sustainability, and measurable outcomes needed to demonstrate long-term impact. American College of Cardiology (ACC) accreditation standards establish expectations for community engagement, yet few models describe how to translate these requirements into scalable quality improvement initiatives. This project evaluated whether a collaborative, service-line–led outreach model aligned with ACC accreditation standards could improve community access to cardiovascular education, screening, and prevention resources.
In response to ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation requirements and priorities identified through the institutional Community Health Needs Assessment, the cardiac service line developed a coordinated community outreach strategy. A multidisciplinary committee was formed that included nursing leaders, frontline nurses, cardiologists, advanced practice providers, educators, quality improvement specialists, population health representatives, community outreach coordinators, and marketing and communications professionals. The team developed standardized workflows, established community partnerships, implemented cardiovascular education, blood pressure screenings, and Hands-Only CPR training, and created processes for tracking participation and outcomes.
From January 2023 through December 2025, annual outreach events increased from 10 in 2023 to 20 in 2024 and 35 in 2025, representing a 250% increase from baseline. Annual community reach increased from approximately 1,500 individuals in 2023 to 3,000 in 2024 and 5,000 in 2025, representing a 233% increase from baseline. Data sources included internal outreach tracking logs, event participation records, and CPR kiosk utilization reports. Blood pressure screenings identified participants with elevated readings, including individuals without a previously reported history of hypertension. Referral education and follow-up guidance were provided to 100% of participants with abnormal screening results. CPR education was expanded through the deployment of a mobile CPR kiosk. Additional outcomes included improved interdisciplinary collaboration, standardized outreach tracking, and stronger alignment with ACC community outreach requirements.
This initiative demonstrates how an accreditation framework can help transform community outreach from a regulatory requirement into a sustainable, data-driven population health strategy. Multidisciplinary ownership, standardized workflows, community partnerships, and measurable outcomes were essential to program growth. Future efforts will focus on reaching additional high-risk populations and strengthening referral and follow-up tracking.
