Allegheny Health Network Announces 'Every Heart Matters' Program to Address Cardiovascular Health Disparities across the City of Pittsburgh

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Press Releases Cardiovascular Institute

To Date, Program Has Provided Free Echocardiograms to 190 Residents; Will Host Next Screening Event at Neighborhood Resilience Project in Pittsburgh's Hill District on Tuesday

PITTSBURGH - Allegheny Health Network's (AHN) Cardiovascular Institute, in partnership with Highmark Health's Equitable Health Institute, is pleased to announce the "Every Heart Matters" program, which works to address cardiovascular health disparities across Pittsburgh by offering free echocardiogram screenings to eligible patient populations, in their home community.

The program will host its next complimentary echocardiogram screening day on Tuesday, Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Neighborhood Resilience Project (2038 Bedford Ave.) in Pittsburgh's Hill District neighborhood.

Every Heart Matters is mainly funded by generous contributions from the Highmark Foundation and Pittsburgh Foundation.

"Overwhelming data shows that patients from racial and ethnic minority groups have an increased prevalence of heart disease. Our goal is to remove significant barriers to care and reach these patients with vital services that could save their lives," said Anita Radhakrishnan, MD, FACC, cardiologist and Director of the Every Heart Matters Program. "We are incredibly grateful to both the Pittsburgh and Highmark Foundations for their generous support, which allows us to provide this level of care within our patients' communities."

To date, the program has provided 190 free echocardiograms - an ultrasound test that checks the structure and function of the heart and is used to diagnose a wide-range of cardiovascular conditions - at no cost, across seven community-based locations throughout Pittsburgh.

Of those screened:

• 28% had abnormal test results with recommendations to follow up with primary care physicians
• 20% had more than moderate valvular disease
• 30% had pulmonary hypertension
• 6% had marked abnormal test results requiring a referral to a cardiologist of their choice

To be eligible for a complimentary echocardiogram, patients must not have an established cardiologist for heart disease, and AHN asks that all patients pre-register for these events.

Saed Alnaimat, MD, cardiology fellow at Allegheny General Hospital, serves as the on-site physician lead of the program and performs all heart screenings.

Results are mailed to each patient within 10 days of the screening. If abnormalities are present, the reading AHN cardiologist will reach out to patients directly to help schedule a cardiology follow-up appointment with a provider of their choice.

Every Heart Matters also conducts follow-ups with each patient three months post-screening to ensure a treatment plan has been put in place.

"The stark reality is that heart disease doesn't affect everyone equally - Black Americans face a significantly higher risk of developing and dying from complex cardiovascular complications," said Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, Chief Clinical Officer of Highmark Health's Equitable Health Institute. "As a health organization, it's our responsibility to play a significant role in addressing systemic inequities and removing barriers that directly contribute to this disparity. We must help ensure everyone has equitable access to the highest level of healthcare and preventive resources right from there very own community."

AHN aims to perform 500+ screening echocardiograms in underserved areas by July 2025, identifying underlying structural heart disease and making appropriate referrals to care.

Today's announcement is the latest in an ongoing programmatic series from AHN's Cardiovascular Institute to better serve residents across the City of Pittsburgh.

In April 2023, the Institute launched "The Northside Heart to Heart Project," where North Side residents who screen positive for hypertension and heart failure are offered a digital blood pressure machine, a weighing digital scale, a watch fitness heart rate monitor and a medication box, all at no cost, in an effort to improve overall wellness, empower patients to take more control of their health and reduce hospital readmission rates.

Over 20% of North Side residents live in poverty, and life expectancy in some neighborhoods is 10 years below the national average due to socioeconomic barriers and limited access to healthcare.

Mark Jones, Highmark Health's Equitable Health Institute Director of Community Impact, leads all programmatic activities and scheduling. To learn more about Every Heart Matters or to book a screening day at an organization near you, please contact [email protected] or call 412-359-6878.

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