Pender Community Hospital & Medical Clinics are Nationally Recognized for Efforts to Improve Blood Pressure Control
The American Heart Association and American Medical Association presented the Target: BP Gold+ Award for commitment to prioritizing blood pressure control
Pender, Neb. (October 20, 2025) – Pender Community Hospital & Medical Clinics have been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for its commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning Gold+ level recognition as part of Target: BP™.
The Gold Plus achievement award recognizes practices that have demonstrated evidence-based practices for BP measurement and treatment and in which high blood pressure is controlled in 70% or more of the affected adult patients.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and preventable death in the U.S. There are 122.4 million U.S. adults living with hypertension. That is nearly half of all adults in the country. Unfortunately, just a quarter of them have their BP under control, making both diagnosis and effective management critical. In the U.S., heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death, respectively, and stroke is a leading cause of disability.
“Addressing blood pressure management is key for better cardiovascular health – and critical today, when heart disease and stroke continue to be leading causes of death for adults in the U.S.,” said Laura Gamble, CEO at Pender Community Hospital. “High blood pressure is a leading risk factor of heart disease and stroke that can often be prevented or managed if diagnosed and treated properly.”
Target: BP is a national initiative formed by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association in response to the high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure. The initiative aims to help health care organizations and care teams, at no cost, improve blood pressure control rates through an evidence-based quality improvement program and recognizes organizations, like Pender Community Hospital and Medical Clinics, that are committed to improving blood pressure control.
“By committing to helping more people in Northeast Nebraska control their blood pressure and reduce their risks for future heart disease and stroke, Pender Community Hospital and Medical Clinics is taking a key step to helping more people live longer, healthier lives,” said Wanpen Vongpatanasin, M.D., volunteer member of the Target: BP Advisory Group and liaison to the American Heart Association Hypertension Council. “Pender Community Hospital and Medical Clinic’s participation in the Target: BP initiative shows its dedication to turning clinical guidelines into lifelines for patients and their families.”
Learn more at TargetBP.org.
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About Pender Community Hospital District
Pender Community Hospital (PCH) has been providing quality healthcare in northeast Nebraska since 1913. The 21-bed critical access hospital (CAH) is recognized with a 5-Star Rating from the National Rural Rating System (NRRS). PCH comprises not only the hospital but four rural health clinics and three pharmacies, as well as Prairie Breeze Assisted Living and Little Sprouts Child Development Center. For more information, visit pchne.org
About Target: BPTM
Target: BP™ is a national initiative formed by the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association in response to the high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure. Target: BP helps health care organizations and care teams, at no cost, improve BP control rates through an evidence-based quality improvement program and recognizes organizations committed to improving BP control.