UConn Health

July 6, 2023 | Jennifer Walker - UConn Health

UConn Health Receives $50,000 Million Hearts Health Equity Grant

The Million Hearts Health Equity Grant, has awarded UConn Health $50,000 which enabled us to purchase 1,000 automated Blood Pressure Cuff Kits™ to provide to our at-risk or high-risk maternal patients.

A mother holds and newborn child in the maternity care unit at UConn John Dempsey Hospital at UConn Health in Farmington. (Stan Godlewski for UConn Health)

Each year, thousands of maternal women and their babies get sick from dangerous health conditions related to life-threatening high blood pressure disorders such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, HELLP syndrome, and eclampsia.

These serious conditions only occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period and are characterized by a rapid rise in blood pressure that can lead to seizures, stroke, multiple organ failure, and even death of the mother and/or baby. For women diagnosed with these conditions, it is critical that they monitor their blood pressure at home and report a rise in blood pressure to their maternal provider.

Several insurance companies do not cover the purchase of blood pressure cuffs for maternal women, causing a barrier to home-based monitoring for those who may not be able to afford an expensive automated blood pressure cuff.

Million Hearts® is a national initiative co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  

The Million Hearts Health Equity Grant, has awarded UConn Health $50,000 which enabled us to purchase 1,000 automated Blood Pressure Cuff Kits™ to provide to our at-risk or high risk maternal patients. Our OB/GYN, Maternal Fetal Medicine, and Family Medicine practices are able to provide the Cuff Kit™ to these women, in real-time, allowing them to have this important tool to monitor their blood pressure at home and report any changes to their clinician.

The Cuff Kit™ includes a validated automated blood pressure cuff as well as bilingual educational materials on high blood pressure in pregnant and post-partum women and a blood pressure log to track her blood pressure readings.

UConn Health was chosen as one of six to receive this grant out of 107 grant applicants allowing us to better serve our patients.

“We are thrilled to be able to remove a barrier to accessing a home blood pressure Cuff Kit™ for at-risk and high-risk maternal patients at UConn Health,” says Wendy Martinson, Ambulatory Quality Manager at UConn Health. “This is a critical tool in helping to manage their blood pressure and provide better outcomes for our patients and their babies.”

For more information on the Blood Pressure Cuff Kits, email Wendy Martinson at wemartinson@uchc.edu or call 860-679-2302.