High blood pressure is one of North Philadelphia’s most critical health issues, impacting at least 33% of its residents and nearly half of the community’s non-Hispanic black adults. Left untreated, it can have serious consequences—including heart disease, stroke, dementia, kidney failure, and vision loss.
That’s why Temple Health has joined the Team Up to Take Down High Blood Pressure initiative, partnering with Penn Medicine and the Greater Philadelphia American Heart Association to remove barriers to accurate blood pressure management and improve early diagnosis and treatment in partnership with healthcare providers. Temple’s participation will expand the initiative into North Philadelphia, increasing access to care and health education to meet community needs.
“Together, we are building a sustainable model for cardiovascular health—one that is rooted in evidence-based strategies, community trust, and clinical excellence,” Abhi Rastogi, MBA, MIS, Temple Health’s COO and EVP, said at the initiative’s year two launch event.
“The goal of the Team Up to Take Down High Blood Pressure initiative is to implement these strategies across five health centers and 15 community sites by 2027, creating a ripple effect of wellness and empowerment throughout the city,” Rastogi continued.
Empowering North Philadelphia with Lifesaving Tools and Education
“We are proud to welcome Temple Health to this growing initiative,” said Jennifer Litchman-Green, Executive Director of the American Heart Association of Greater Philadelphia. “Expanding into North Philadelphia strengthens our ability to address inequitable health outcomes and improve blood pressure management across more communities.”
“Initiatives like Team Up to Take Down High Blood Pressure matter because they bring lifesaving tools and education directly into the neighborhoods that need them most, by meeting people where they are,” said Joshua Klaris, Executive Director of North10 Philadelphia. “Through this collaboration, Team Up is raising awareness and empowering residents to take control of their health.”
Partnerships Serving the Community
North10 Philadelphia, which serves the Hunting Park-East Tioga area, is one of the community organizations and health centers partnering with Team Up in the initiative’s second year. Other new partners include YEAH Philly, Philly Masjid, Eddie’s House, Zion Baptist Church, Fair Hill Community Physicians, and Project HOME’s Stephen Klein Wellness Center.
They will work with Team Up and existing partners to reduce barriers to early hypertension diagnosis and promote education for effective risk reduction and long-term management. Team Up will also launch a public awareness campaign emphasizing the importance of regular blood pressure checks and hypertension risks and management strategies.
In addition, Temple Health will co-host a learning collaborative with Penn Medicine and the American Heart Association to share best practices around, and address barriers to, effective blood pressure control.
“Temple Health is committed to removing barriers to care, improving early diagnosis, and empowering residents with the tools and support they need to manage their health,” Rastogi said at the launch event. “Thank you to our partners at Penn Medicine and the American Heart Association for your leadership and vision, and thank you to everyone here today for your dedication to making North Philadelphia a healthier, more informed, and stronger place for all.”