NYC Health + Hospitals Recognized for High Quality Care for High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, and Cholesterol by the American Heart Association

NYC Health + Hospitals Recognized for High Quality Care for High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, and Cholesterol by the American Heart Association

High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cholesterol are major risk factors for heart attack and stroke

Nov 02, 2026

NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the American Heart Association recognized several of the health care system's sites across with awards for high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol control. Twenty-one of the health system's primary care sites received the 2026 Target: BP Gold + award, the highest possible award, for achieving blood pressure control for at least 70% of their patients. Twenty-three of the health system's primary care sites also received the 2026 Target: Type 2 Diabetes Gold award, the highest possible award, for having met high thresholds for diabetes control and cardiovascular disease risk factors, hypertension, and cholesterol management. The twenty-three primary care sites also received the 2026 Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol Gold award, the highest possible award, for having at least 70% of their adult patient population at risk of cardiovascular disease on statin therapy. These three conditions - high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cholesterol - are major risk factors for heart attack and stroke.

"At NYC Health + Hospitals, we have built out a large toolkit of programs, resources and trainings for frontline staff dedicated to chronic disease care and prevention," said Nichola Davis, MD, MS, Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer at NYC Health and Hospitals. "Many of these resources focus on high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol which are major risk factors for heart disease. We are thrilled that our facilities have reached the highest levels of national recognition again, as this translates into lives saved."

"Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. with diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol being three major risk factors," said NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Medical Officer of Ambulatory Care Andrew Wallach, MD. "We are proud that NYC Health + Hospitals provides high-quality care for patients with these conditions. The first step is screening and making a diagnosis so that patients get connected with primary care for chronic disease management."

"At NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, we are committed to ensuring that every patient has access to the high-quality care they need to live a healthier life," said Michelle Lewis, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health. "These awards are a testament to the dedication of our care teams, who work tirelessly to help patients manage chronic conditions and prevent serious health complications. We are proud of this recognition and remain focused on improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve."

The awards highlight the high standard of care across primary care at NYC Health + Hospitals, including the following programs:

• Clinical Pharmacists in Primary Care - Clinical pharmacists are integrated members of primary care teams to help patients with chronic disease manage their medications.
• Treat to Target - An intensive nurse-led hypertension and diabetes management primary care program for patients who are above their target.
• Chronic Disease Outreach - Nurses and outreach staff contact over 1,000 patients each month with high blood pressure or diabetes to keep them engaged in primary care, with a focus on patients who are uncontrolled and do not have an upcoming visit scheduled.
• Community Health Workers - Community Health Workers meet regularly with patients to identify and address social barriers to health and well-being, such as housing, financial, food, and legal needs, as well as helping them schedule healthcare appointments and coordinate transportation.
• Teleretinal Screening in Primary Care - Primary care sites offer teleretinal screenings as part of a routine visit for patients with diabetes, instead of requiring a separate ophthalmology appointment.
• Text Messages and Support for Insulin Adjustment - The text-based program optimizes insulin dosing for patients who are on insulin.
• In-person Educational Support in Primary Care - This includes diabetes classes, one-on-one sessions, patient support groups, and dietitian support.
• Lifestyle Medicine - The Lifestyle Medicine Program's team supports patients in making evidence-based lifestyle changes, including a healthful plant-based diet, increased physical activity, improved sleep habits, stress reduction, avoidance of substance use, and stronger social connections. Adults living with prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or health concerns related to excess weight are eligible to enroll.

Blood Pressure

2026 Target BP: Gold + Award

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Belvis
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, North Brooklyn
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Queens
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Roosevelt
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Sydenham
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Tremont
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
• NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
• NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull

2026 Target BP: Silver + Award

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Broadway
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gunhill
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem

Diabetes

2026 Target: Type 2 Diabetes Gold Award

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Belvis
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Broadway
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, North Brooklyn
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Queens
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Roosevelt
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Sydenham
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Tremont
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
• NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
• NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull

2026 Target: Type 2 Diabetes Participant Award

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gunhill

Cholesterol

2026 Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol Gold Award

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Belvis
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Broadway
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, North Brooklyn
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Queens
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Roosevelt
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Sydenham
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Tremont
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
• NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
• NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull

2026 Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol Participant Award

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gunhill

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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan-all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.