Practices recognized for heart work

The American Heart Association recognized six physician practices and health systems for their efforts to improve patients’ blood pressure control.

The association gave gold-level awards to the Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System and the Utica Park clinic, because 70 percent or more of their patients’ blood pressure was under control.

Clinics recognized for their participation were Community Health Centers of Oklahoma, Morton Comprehensive Health Services, Stigler Health and Wellness Center and Variety Care.

ALSO ...

• Dr. Edd Rhoades, chief medical officer at the state Health Department, received an award from the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Ray Helfer, MD, award recognizes pediatricians for their work to prevent child abuse and neglect. Rhoades is head of Oklahoma’s Infant and Child Health Advisory Task Force and Children’s Health Group.

• Variety Care received $50,000 from the Telligen Community Initiative, an Iowa foundation, for training. The Straka Terrace, Lafayette and Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City clinics will use the “dramatic performance improvement” model to increase productivity and better use technology. For more information, go to VarietyCare.org.

• The home visiting programs run by Oklahoma City Public Schools and Bethany Public Schools received grants and recognition through the Parents as Teachers National Center. Both programs were named as top performers. Oklahoma City schools received $475,000, and Bethany received $101,250.