Among cardiovascular diseases, hypertension is another that has had a sustained and damaging effect on the Black community. According to the CDC, 58.6% of Black men and over 57.6 % of Black women aged 20 and over have high blood pressure.12
Medtronic LABS, an independent, non-profit organization with multiple entities including an operating foundation, a social business, and in-country subsidiaries, designs and implements tech-powered healthcare delivery models for underserved chronic disease patients in Asia and Africa. The organization integrates digital technology, community health workers, and partnerships with health systems, governments, and others to drive sustainable health outcomes in low-resourced settings. Now their reach is expanding within the U.S. to communities in New Jersey where hypertension is prevalent.
Camden County, New Jersey is home to a population that is 20% uninsured, and chronic disease is overrepresented with 32.4% people suffering from high blood pressure.13 Through a community-based initiative, Medtronic LABS will facilitate two pilot programs as part of a collaboration with a local health system. The collaboration will focus on improving access and delivery of high-quality healthcare for patients with chronic conditions. Through combined resources and expertise, the pilot aims to convert unique clinical insights into promising new care delivery approaches aimed at increasing access and reducing healthcare costs.