The Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency says their High Blood Pressure Collaborative is moving the needle on positive treatment for hypertension. The collaborative is headed up by FLHSA and the Rochester Business Alliance, and includes health experts and business leaders.
Paul Speranza is Vice Chair and Secretary of Wegmans, and he says the reason they're taking part in this health collaboration is simple.
"First of all, it's good business. Businesses, to be successful, needs a healthy workforce."
Wegmans, and other major employers in the area like Paychex and Xerox are working with health experts to help address high blood pressure. The goal is to diagnose it earlier, and treat it more effectively.
Trilby de Jung is the CEO of the FLHSA. She says, it's working.
"We have increased the control rate for high blood pressure in Rochester by 13.7%."
She says the amount of people who have their high blood pressure under control is now over 70%, compared to a nation average of 52%. The reason they chose to focus on high blood pressure, de Jung says, is because it's pervasive, deadly, and treatable.
High Blood Pressure is reported by the World Health Organization to be the most preventable risk for premature death worldwide. It is estimated that one in three adults have high blood pressure.
