Jody Stones

The Virginia Department of Health has historically funded local health district projects, cholesterol standardization, and a cardiovascular disease (CVD) focused advisory group through the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant. Upon receiving Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding to develop Virginia’s core capacities for CVH promotion, the Virginia Cardiovascular Health Project (CVHP) was established. The CVHP faced the challenge of adding E & P strategies to traditional-medical model for CVD risk reduction. A model presentation was developed to educate advisory group members and key state partners on the CVH E & P concepts. The CVHP broadened the advisory group to a full coalition with six standing committees. The coalition members were provided a script to recruit non-traditional E & P focused partners to join, such as community developers, retail association, and transportation groups. Partnerships have been solidified with the Virginia (VA) Department of Transportation, the VA Department of Agriculture, VA Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Data are being collected on CVH E & P strategies in place in communities, worksites, schools, and faith organizations and from CVD secondary prevention sources to complete the CVHP Resource Inventory. A "Call to Action Plan" will be written by the coalition and members will commit resources to the activities for implementation of this strategic plan. Trainings have been offered at non-traditional conferences and CVD related conferences to increase awareness of CVH E & P issues.

Abstract submitted by: Jody Lynne Stones, MEd

Many resources are available to access surveillance data, community assessment data, and tools are available to use to present those data. Both national and state level web sites exist to retrieve data related to mortality, hospital admissions, Medicare data, other health care studies, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey and secondary prevention sites. These data can be used for educating key stakeholders on the burden of cardiovascular related conditions, identifying at-risk populations for targeting intervention strategies and serving as the foundation for defining the shifts in the disease and related risk factors over time. Other sources of data were explored such as data available from risk management companies studying practitioners’ CVD secondary prevention pharmacological practice patterns, client data from the community health centers, and claims data from managed care organizations. Skills are needed to use the data available and present it in a concise manner to relay the burden message to decision makers. Knowledge and experience in compiling data is necessary to select the data that truly paint the picture necessary for pointed key stakeholder messages.

Abstract submitted by: Jody Lynne Stones, MEd