Loyola University Medical Center designated as Comprehensive Hypertension Center

Loyola University Medical Center has been approved as a Comprehensive Hypertension Center by the American Society of Hypertension (ASH). This designation recognizes centers that have demonstrated the highest level of expertise in treating patients with complex hypertension and co-existing medical conditions such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

ASH is the largest organization of hypertension researchers and health care providers in the United States committed to preventing and treating hypertension and its consequences.
"Centers such as Loyola that have been designated as Comprehensive Hypertension Centers have the multidisciplinary expertise to care for patients with the most complex and difficult-to-control forms of hypertension." said Dr. Karen Griffin, medical director of the Loyola University Comprehensive Hypertension Program.

To be designated as a Comprehensive Hypertension Center, a center must meet the following criteria:
•The director is an ASH-designated specialist in clinical hypertension.
•More than 50 percent of the center is devoted to patients with hypertension and related disorders.
•Personnel are certified in recording blood pressure and in maintaining equipment for both the center and for patients who monitor themselves.
•Performs and interprets 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure recording.
•Has facilities to perform extensive multi-specialty examination and treatment to assess complicated hypertension problems.
•Influences hypertension curriculum for medical students, house officers and fellows.
•Personnel participate in basic and clinical research with annual publication of scholarly articles related to the field of hypertension and related disorders.

The designation is for a five-year period.

SOURCE Loyola University Health System