Cardiovascular event rates are as much as 50% higher in rural, NC counties compared to metropolitan areas. With little informatics support, Heart Health Now engaged 219 small primary care practices in NC - 52% of which were rural - to help implement new evidence-based strategies to reduce CVD risk. The one year intervention was focused on practice facilitation and the use of risk-stratified, practice population dashboards. Dr. Cykert will discuss some of the key implementation lessons and study findings from this statewide project that included practice sites that care for nearly 350,000 rural-dwelling adults.

About this seminar series: Rural communities face ongoing health disparities in conditions ranging from heart disease and stroke to addiction and suicide. Rooted in economic, social, racial, and health workforce factors, these disparities demand collaborative and innovative approaches to promoting health equity. We invite you to join the Inclusive Science Program for its Spring 2020 seminar series on rural health research and engagement.

Samuel Cykert, MD

Professor of Medicine and Director of the Program on Health and Clinical Informatics

UNC School of Medicine

Associate Director for Medical Education, NC AHEC Program