For the first time, the American Heart Association is recognizing outpatient care organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico for helping patients better manage high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes—three of the nation's most common and consequential cardiovascular risk factors. The milestone, announced by the Association, underscores the growing role of outpatient settings in tackling a health burden that affects an estimated 130.6 million U.S. adults, according to the 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report.
The Association is recognizing more than 2,700 healthcare organizations through Outpace CVD™, its outpatient quality improvement portfolio. The initiative helps organizations improve management of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes through evidence-based resources and recognition programs, including Target: BP™, Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes℠. Collectively, participating organizations serve nearly 45.5 million patients, including millions at risk for cardiovascular disease. Over 1,750 organizations earned recognition in more than one Outpace CVD program.
The significance of this broad recognition lies in the numbers: high blood pressure affects 125.9 million U.S. adults, yet only 22% have it under control. For 2026, nearly 2,700 organizations earned Target: BP™ recognition for prioritizing accurate measurement, evidence-based treatment, and improved blood pressure control. High cholesterol is another major modifiable risk factor, and Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™ recognized almost 1,000 organizations for their commitment to cholesterol management. Meanwhile, cardiovascular disease remains a leading health threat for people with Type 2 diabetes, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes℠ recognized more than 1,700 organizations for addressing cardiovascular risk factors through evidence-based quality improvement and guideline-directed care.
"Many of the biggest opportunities to improve cardiovascular health begin in the outpatient setting," said Kevin Hwang, M.D., MPH, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association's Outpatient Quality Improvement Advisory Group. "Through Outpace CVD, care teams are applying evidence-based strategies that help patients better manage their cardiovascular risk factors." Hwang, medical director of the UT Health Physicians Internal Medicine - Texas Medical Center clinic and director of its general internal medicine fellowship, added: "Addressing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes is critical to improving cardiovascular health. These organizations are demonstrating how evidence-based care can improve cardiovascular health and patient outcomes."
The recognition of organizations in every state signals that evidence-based cardiovascular risk factor management is becoming a national priority, not just a localized effort. With cardiovascular disease remaining one of the nation's most urgent health challenges, the Outpace CVD programs provide a scalable model for improving outcomes. Each year, Outpace CVD supports thousands of healthcare organizations working to improve cardiovascular health in communities nationwide. Learn more at heart.org/OutpaceCVD.
