Community Service
Be of Good Heart program
Ascension Wisconsin
Among African-Americans, an estimated 40 percent of diabetes cases and 25 percent of hypertension cases are undiagnosed. Undiagnosed or unmanaged diabetes and high blood pressure could lead to heart disease, the No. 1 killer of men and women in the United States.
Where one lives may increase risk, as well.
Many central city Milwaukee residents who lack access to health information and health care because of barriers related to poverty are especially vulnerable.
To address this, Ascension Wisconsin has implemented its Be of Good Heart program, which brings care to people who need it, where they can access it. People can access care more easily when it’s offered in places that are familiar and convenient for them.
The Be of Good Heart program utilizes 20 Urban Church Wellness community partners within identified at-risk zip codes to reach community members. Of those screened, 1,500 were referred to their primary care providers for follow-up care and 40 people were referred to urgent care.
Nurses provide free diabetes and hypertension screenings to community members. The Be of Good Heart nurses screened 2,425 people at its church sites, the resource center and Ascension St. Joseph between October 2017 and June 2018. An additional 1,627 individuals received hypertension screenings at Ascension Seton Dental Clinic during this same time period.
Following the screenings, the nurses educate screened individuals about the diseases, coach them on self-management and connect them with primary care providers when needed. The goal is to enable individuals to take a proactive approach to their own health care.
