Caring for the Whole Health of Georgia

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Georgians, with stroke being the fifth leading cause. According to the Association, more women die from heart disease and stroke than any other condition, including all forms of cancer combined, and cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of new moms.

“These statistics are astounding and must be addressed,” said Dr. Seema Csukas, chief medical officer for CareSource Georgia. “Collaborating with the Association allows us to engage the majority of our Medicaid and Marketplace members with the science-based education and culturally competent resources they need to improve health outcomes, as well as individuals and families beyond our members as we work to improve the whole health of Georgia one community at a time.”

Through a $300,000 contribution to the American Heart Association, CareSource is supporting education and outreach efforts dedicated to improving cardiovascular and maternal health in the greater Atlanta area. Throughout the next year, this partnership will:

• Work to improve the health of both mothers and their children to reduce the staggering statistics around maternal health and morbidity through a multi-pronged, awareness campaign
• Help to increase understanding of stroke signs and symptoms, immediate management and modifiable risk factors among the Hispanic-Latino community through a public education campaign
• Encourage people to make healthy food, nutrition and lifestyle choices through an evidence-based community nutrition program
• Distribute CPR Anytime training materials and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to community organizations
• Provide self-measured Blood Pressure monitoring, infant CPR kits and information about heart health during pregnancy and for new mothers