The University of Oklahoma and the University of Tulsa have received a $15 million federal grant to help prevent heart disease and strokes among Oklahomans.
The universities will establish a cooperative to help improve heart health.
"There are physicians all across Oklahoma — especially in small communities, and in rural communities and private practice — who will be part of this infrastructure that will change the quality of heart care in the state of Oklahoma," said OU President David Boren.
The universities got one of seven grants through a division of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Daniel Duffy with the OU-TU School of Community Medicine will oversee the efforts. He sees the grant as a reward.
"Oklahoma qualified for this award not because of our dismal health statistics, although we warrant it on that, but because we have built an infrastructure of community-level engagement and research," Duffy said.
Dr. Steven Crawford chairs OU’s family and preventive medicine department. He said the grant will help them improve independent clinics’ reach.
"Three hundred practices ... with 10 or fewer clinicians will be selected from across the state — we'll be concentrating in rural areas — to participate in a practice enhancement and research to prove that changes make a difference," Crawford said.
The grant is through the federal EvidenceNOW program, which focuses on the ABCS of prevention: aspirin use for high-risk patients, blood pressure control, cholesterol management and smoking cessation.
