OMH Grantee

Forsyth Medical Center Foundation
2085 Frontis Plaza Blvd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

The Forsyth Medical Center Foundation (FMCF) stroke elimination initiative targets African American and Hispanic residents of urban and rural areas of Forsyth and Guilford counties of North Carolina. Among FMCF's partners in this effort are: the North Carolina Stroke Association (NCSA), the American Stroke Association of the American Heart Association (ASA/AHA), Moses Cone Hospital, the Downtown Health Plaza, the Guilford County Health Department, the HBCU Health Promotion Alliance, Hispanic Action Association, the Tri-State Stroke Network, Lowes Foods, and local schools of nursing. Mobile health screenings are provided for blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index, and cholesterol. Screenings are also held at Forsyth and Moses Cone hospitals, and during community events. Each participant screened receives follow-up by telephone at 14 days and again at 60 days. Those identified as hypertensive are contacted with a self-mailer after six months. Free educational sessions are offered in English and Spanish at locations convenient to the target population (e.g., work sites, churches, community organizations). AHA has provided the project with a platform for intervention through the "Search Your Heart" training program that is offered through various churches. This program is designed to raise stroke risk factor awareness and promote lifestyle changes. AHA also provides media materials with heightened assistance during Stroke Awareness Month. Forsyth and Guilford County Departments of Health provide educational sessions covering topics such as diabetes reduction, smoking cessation, walking programs, nutrition, and physical activity. The NCSA provides stroke education materials. Lowes Foods provides materials highlighting healthy foods in their stores.