Electronic medical record and Facebook are major players in the Heart of New Ulm
NEW ULM, Minn. 04/15/2009--Allina Hospitals & Clinics and the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation have an ambitious goal: to significantly reduce, and eventually eliminate, heart attacks among the 13,500 residents of New Ulm, Minn.
The five-year initiative, called the Heart of New Ulm project, will begin heart health screenings this week -- the first step to identify health risks, track the health of the population and provide early interventions to improve health and reduce heart attacks.
And nearly 400 fans of the Heart of New Ulm are learning about the screenings on Facebook before anyone else in the community. Researchers decided early on to use the social media website when a survey showed that hundreds, if not thousands, of New Ulm residents engaged in the Facebook community as a whole.
Researchers say Facebook not only provides a way to communicate project activities, like screenings and forums, but virtual conversations between the public, researchers and health professionals could also be critical to the program’s success.
"With an initiative like this, it’s important to provide a forum where people can ask questions, comment on our updates and be heard," Jeffrey VanWormer, project manager said.
"Research shows that the more interactive dialog people have about something, the more interest and trust they have in it. They develop a relationship with it. With Facebook and other social networking technologies, you just get to more people than you would relying on traditional media outlets alone."
Additionally, about 90 percent of New Ulm residents are patients at the New Ulm Medical Center and have an electronic medical record. The record gives researchers a groundbreaking opportunity to achieve their vision for a healthier community.
The electronic record will help researchers match the right interventions with the right people – what would otherwise be an overwhelming logistical and costly task.
For instance, healthy people will be encouraged to participate in activities such as health assessments and community-wide fitness challenges. People with moderate risk factors will be nudged toward weight management, tobacco cessation, and stress reduction programs. Those at high risk for cardiovascular disease, or with active disease, will be offered more intensive clinical testing and therapies, much like disease management programs.
Members in the Facebook community can share with their network of friends the screenings and other activities. "Facebook users will be able to talk to other people who have the same issues as they do. In addition, they can engage with the project planners in a different way. Without it, we would never be able to have enough meetings at the right times and places to connect to so many people with differing interests," Van Wormer said.
To join the Heart of Ulm Facebook Group, log on to Facebook, search for Heart of New Ulm and join. The group provides an opportunity for community discussion about the project, upcoming public screenings, the Community Challenge and more. For more information about the project and to sign up for email updates, visit the project’s web site, or call 507-233-1945 with questions.
The Heart of New Ulm project is a collaborative partnership of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, New Ulm Medical Center, and the City of New Ulm.
About Allina Hospitals & Clinics
Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit family of hospitals, clinics and other care services dedicated to meeting the lifelong health care needs of communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. New Ulm medical Center is part of Allina.
About the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is creating a world without heart disease through groundbreaking clinical research and innovative educational programs. Abbott Northwestern Hospital is part of Allina. # # #
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