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State Program: Maine
Basic Implementation
The Maine Bureau of Health in the Maine Department of Health Services
began receiving funds from CDC in 2000 to support a state heart disease
and stroke prevention program.
Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke
- Heart disease is the second leading cause of
death in Maine, accounting for 3,170 deaths or approximately 25% of the
state's deaths in 2002. National Vital Statistics Report 2004;53(5)).
- Stroke is the third leading cause of
death, accounting for 823 deaths or approximately 7% of the state's deaths
in 2002. (National Vital
Statistics Report 2004;53(5)).
- According to Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey results, adults in Maine
reported having the following risk factors for heart disease and stroke:
In 2005,
- 25.6% had high blood pressure
- 36.2% of those screened reported having high blood cholesterol
In 2006,
- 6.9% had diabetes
- 20.9% were current smokers
- 59.7% were overweight or obese (Body
Mass Index greater than or equal to 25.0)
- 20.9% reported no exercise in the prior 30 days
Key Responsibilities
- Facilitate collaboration among public and private sector
partners, such as managed care organizations, health
insurers, federally funded health centers, businesses,
priority population organizations, and emergency response
agencies.
- Define the burden of heart disease and stroke and assess
existing population-based strategies for primary and
secondary prevention of heart disease and stroke within the
state.
- Develop and update a comprehensive state plan for heart
disease and stroke prevention with emphasis on heart-healthy
policies development, physical and social environments
change, and disparities elimination (e.g., based on
geography, gender, race or ethnicity, or socioeconomic
status).
- Identify culturally appropriate approaches to promote
heart disease and stroke prevention among racial, ethnic,
and other priority populations.
- Use population-based public health strategies to
increase public awareness of the heart disease and stroke
urgency, the signs and symptoms of heart disease and stroke,
and the need to call 9–1–1.
- Support health care organizations system changes to
assure quality of care and implementation of primary and
secondary prevention for heart disease and stroke.
- Monitor, implement, and evaluate prevention strategies
and programs in health care settings, work sites, and
communities.
- Provide training and technical assistance for health
care professionals, and partners to support primary and
secondary prevention of heart disease and stroke.
- Monitor quality of care for primary and secondary
prevention.
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State Highlights
- The Maine Cardiovascular Health Program (MCVHP) partnered with the
Maine Cardiovascular Health Council Women and Heart Health Committee to
implement the recommendations of Women and Cardiovascular Health: An
Action Plan for Maine. These organizations collaborate to promote
cardiovascular health for Maine women. In 2006, MCVHP staff conducted
two Women’s Heart Health spokesperson trainings with a total of 48
participants. Many participants indicated on session evaluations that
they plan to use the tools to make presentations in their communities.
- The local Healthy Maine Partnerships (HMPs) address chronic disease
prevention through policy and systems change strategies in healthcare,
worksite, and community settings. In 2006, local HMPs completed a survey
sharing their experiences working with healthcare organizations and
linking community resources to support those diagnosed with chronic
disease. These survey results will inform State Chronic Disease programs
of the successes and challenges encountered when establishing links
between community and healthcare settings. The MCVHP, in partnership
with other state chronic disease programs, provided technical assistance
and resources to support the local HMPs to improve cardiovascular health
in communities.
- MCVHP collaborated with Maine’s three regional wellness councils to
form the Maine Council for Worksite Wellness (MCWW). The roles of MCWW
include 1) establish communication between the regional councils and
other multi-region worksite health promotion providers; 2) provide
networking opportunities for members; 3) create a systematic approach
for referrals between regions; and 4) identify and advocate support for
worksite health promotion. The MCWW has also taken on additional roles
including supporting the Maine Quality Forum to build standards and
thresholds for the “Wellness Star” program, advising the work of the
Dirigo Wellness Pilot, and is holding discussions with insurers to link
evidence-based worksite health management interventions to premium
reductions.
- The Governors Office of Health Policy and Finance received a grant
from the National Governors Association for a small business worksite
wellness program with DirigoChoice insured businesses called the Dirigo
Wellness Pilot. The MCVHP will recruit partners from worksite related
groups in various regions to help convene 100 small businesses,
averaging three employees per business, to participate in the pilot. The
outcome of this collaborative effort will be to better understand the
needs of small businesses and adapt large business approaches to meet
the specific needs of small businesses. What is learned through this
pilot will be developed into a toolkit so it can be shared with business
groups and other small businesses.
- The MCVHP initiated a worksite pilot project to facilitate the
promotion of a wide variety of policy and environmental strategies to
support employee cardiovascular health. The employers followed a
prescribed set of planning and implementation steps, participated in
pre-project and post-project surveys, and provided feedback on their
experiences. The lessons learned from this pilot were used to develop an
online and hard copy resource to assist other employers, public health
agencies, and service providers with their on-going efforts to support
cardiovascular health.
- HeartSafe Communities is a recognition program geared to Emergency
Medical Service (EMS) providers implemented by MCVHP. It is based on the
chain of survival, focusing on early access to care, Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR), defibrillation (via AEDs), and advanced care by
emergency personnel. A major goal of the program is to enhance linkages
between local EMS and the communities they serve to improve
cardiovascular health among their residents and visitors. The program
was launched at EMS regional offices and 294 local EMS chiefs during the
week of November 28, 2005. The first annual Maine HeartSafe Communities
Recognition event was held on May 17, 2006, at which the first eight
designees were recognized. There are currently 16 EMS organizations
designated, covering over 96 Maine communities, serving a population of
302,267. A HeartSafe kit was developed to assist designees and their
community partners in planning and implementing cardiovascular
education, awareness, and promotion activities. The updated Maine
Heartsafe Communities website was launched in October, 2006.
For more information on heart disease and
stroke prevention in Maine, visit
http://www.healthymainepartnerships.org/mcvhp2.html.*
To view county–level data, visit our
interactive map site at
http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/library/maps/statemaps.htm.
*Links to non–Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link.
Page last reviewed: September 6, 2007
Page last modified: September 6, 2007
Content source: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke
Prevention,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion
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