Who We Are

CPC Community Health

Overview & History

CPC is an academically-led community health organization that develops innovative and evidence-based health promotion programs, interactive health technology, and community partnerships to help win the fight against cardiovascular disease in Colorado. We partner with medical centers, health departments, community based organizations, and foundations across Colorado to help drive our innovative programming.

Our evidence-based programs help vulnerable populations across Colorado gain vital access to services and education to help delay, prevent, or manage cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Development

Develop practical, scientifically sound strategies to improve cardiovascular health with a focus on underserved communities.

Awareness

Raise awareness of heart disease through innovative outreach, screening, education and improving access to health care.

Strengthen

Strengthen health care by educating providers in clinical guideline adherence and cardiovascular disease prevention.

Partnerships

Leverage community partnerships to work with and improve the health of vulnerable populations from rural and urban communities.

Our History

CPC is a not-for-profit community health and clinical research organization affiliated with the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver Health and the National Jewish Medical and Research Center.

Founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert W. Schrier as the Colorado Prevention Center, its primary purpose was to run the Appropriate Blood Pressure Control in Diabetes (ABCD) study which redefined the goals for lowering blood pressure to prevent the complications of diabetes. In 2000, CPC diversified to perform multi-center, international studies in cardiovascular disease with a focus on developing new therapies, and in 2005 our Community Health department became firmly established to design, implement and evaluate community programs with the goal of improved health in our Colorado communities.

In 2010, the expansion of the Colorado Prevention Center’s activities prompted the organization to change its name to CPC and recognize its two main branches: CPC Community Health and CPC Clinical Research.

Today, CPC Community Health develops and implements innovative, evidence-based health promotion programs that target underserved populations. Our two key programs, Colorado Heart Healthy Solutions and Community Heart Health Actions for Latinos at Risk, have collectively reached over 45,000 Coloradans.

Past Programs

Heart Disease Prevention Forum

This planning grant was funded as an early phase planning project by the Rose Community Foundation from 2009 to 2010. The objective was to assess the needs of community-based organizations (CBOs), local health departments and clinics that are providing risk reduction programs in diabetes, tobacco dependency, obesity and cardiovascular disease to vulnerable and underserved populations in the Denver area. This community focused effort evaluated the potential of a collaborative to build capacity and enhance effectiveness of existing programs. This grant also explored the willingness and interest of CBOs to strengthen ties and evaluate opportunities for programmatic collaboration and implementation around a series of common metrics and approaches to be considered as part of a second phase.

Greeley Heart Study

To confirm the reduction in heart attack rates in Pueblo, Colorado, CPC Community Health studied the effect of a non-smoking ordinance on heart attack rates in Greeley, Colorado. Heart attack hospitalizations from July 2002 through June 2006 were assessed to evaluate the effect of the ordinance among smokers and non-smokers. The study found the smoke-free ordinance to be associated with a decrease in heart attack hospitalizations, and the reductions in heart attacks were greatest among smokers, despite prior data suggesting that benefits accrue principally among non-smokers.

Health-e-Solutions

Health-e-Solutions was designed to increase awareness of global cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among adults in Colorado, and to increase provider capacity to utilize guideline-based care. Using Framingham risk formulas, we developed an interactive, computerized CVD risk assessment which calculates individualized 10-year CVD risk scores and provides a one-page printout with tailored, evidence-based recommendations for individuals via a freestanding kiosk. In collaboration with the Colorado Area Health Education Centers, communities with limited access to evidence-based health information were selected. Venues within the communities included clinics, health fairs, libraries and pharmacies. In clinics, kiosks were combined with datacasts and electronic case studies to enhance provider adherence to CVD guidelines. Between 2006 and 2008, over 35,000 individuals completed the risk assessment and increased their awareness of their risk. In addition, risk factor data collected by the kiosks have also provided a snapshot of CVD risk in these communities.

Pueblo Heart Study

CPC Community Health and the Pueblo Health Department studied the effect of a non-smoking ordinance on heart attack rates. In a before-and-after evaluation of hospital admissions for heart attack in the Pueblo area, heart attack admissions fell by 27% in the 18 months after the ban was in effect. The completed study appeared in the medical journal Circulation, October 2006, as well as in TIME magazine, Business Week, Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In recognition of the importance of these findings, Colorado recently passed a non-smoking ordinance banning smoking in all public places including restaurants and bars.

Bridge the Gap

CPC Community Health researched how to improve the day-to-day practice of medicine in 12 Denver-area primary care offices. Practical treatment algorithms and lectures in cardiovascular disease prevention were provided. By helping doctors apply new findings to treat high cholesterol in diabetes, the risk of heart disease was significantly reduced among nearly 900 diabetic patients.

Bridget the Gap II

Bridget the Gap II: Putting Prevention into Practice in Southeaster Colorado expanded upon Bridge the Gap project with a broadened scope of secondary prevention activities for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The project incorporated clinical algorithms for the diagnosis and treatment of lipids, diabetes, blood pressure and tobacco use, and also emphasized the detection and treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).