Higi stations now offering heart health risk testing
The latest service from Higi’s smart health stations is meant to help inform consumers about cardiovascular health. The Chicago-based health engagement company has worked with the American College of Cardiology’s CardioSmart program to launch a new self-service heart health risk test, with the aim of combating the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
“Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer globally and impacts every community in the United States, but it is often preventable,” said Dr. Martha Gulati, MD, editor-in-chief of CardioSmart.org. “It’s critical that people understand what puts them at risk for heart disease and what immediate preventative measures they can take. Through this collaboration with Higi we’re able to reach patients in their daily lives and educate them with personalized, guideline-recommended information that will help them reduce their risk of heart disease.”
Higi said the heart health risk test addresses a leading health concern among Higi’s users, who have previously used its health stations to track such indicators of heart health as blood pressure and weight since the company launched in 2012. The assessment uses risk-assessment algorithm — which focused on a patient’s 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk. The assessment pairs station-based body measurements with health survey responses to determine a patient’s risk score and range. Higi also is offering personalized digital communications to empower users to take action to address their specific risk factors by sharing local resources and educational information from the ACC’s CardioSmart initiative. The non-diagnostic test is designed to provide users with a gauge of their risk level.
“We are thrilled to add to our suite of assessments in service of our users and to extend our collaboration with the ACC,” says Jeff Bennett, CEO at Higi. “In February of 2020, we saw 1.2 million people participate in the heart health survey our two organizations launched across our station network. This new risk test is a logical evolution of our collaboration — not only will this new risk test empower consumers to proactively address risk factors associated with their heart health, it will connect consumers to the providers who can deliver the care needed to reduce the prevalence of heart attack and stroke in our country.”
Higi noted that alongside the new feature, it had found its first health system partner for the station-initiated risk test in Rush University System for Health, or Rush. When a patient uses a station for the risk test in Chicago, they will be able to connect directly with Rush to get more information and to seek care.
“This heart health risk test is a great opportunity for patients to learn how to take charge of their health,” said Dr. Annabelle Santos Volgman, a cardiologist and leader at Rush, as well as ACC’s Illinois chapter governor-elect. “High blood pressure affects more than 1 in 3 adults in the US. It can lead to strokes, heart failure and heart attack, but can be prevented and treated. For patients who don’t know where to begin, Higi is an easy place to start and gives us, as providers, the information we need to have the right conversations to manage high blood pressure and other risk factors associated with heart attack and stroke.”
Higi said that the test is available anywhere Higi Stations are available.