The Wright Center for Community Health has been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) for its commitment to improving patients’ blood pressure control rates, earning Gold Plus-level recognition as part of Target: BP.

Target: BP is a national initiative created by the AHA and AMA in response to the high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure. The highest award, Gold Plus, recognizes health care enterprises that have demonstrated evidence-based practices for blood pressure measurement and treatment, and in which high blood pressure is controlled in 70% or more of the affected adult patients.

The Wright Center also received two other Gold Awards from the AHA: one for improving the quality of care for patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors through the Target: Type 2 Diabetes program; and the other for improving the quality of care through awareness, detection, and management of high cholesterol with evidence-based strategies and tools through the program, Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol.

Target: Type 2 Diabetes addresses heart disease and stroke risk factors in patients with Type 2 diabetes and puts the unparalleled expertise of the AHA to work for health care organizations nationwide, helping ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol supports physicians and care teams by offering access to the latest research, tools, and resources to reach and sustain cholesterol control rates among the adult patient population they serve.

“Receiving these three Gold Awards from the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association underscores our commitment to advancing the health and well-being of patients living with these chronic conditions,” said Dr. Erin McFadden, chief medical officer at The Wright Center for Community Health. “Through timely diagnosis and evidence-based treatment, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed, empowering patients to achieve healthier, longer lives.”

Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. – about 122.4 million – are living with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, according to the AHA. About 29.3 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, and another estimated 9.7 million are living with undiagnosed diabetes, the AHA said. Approximately 104 million adults in the United States (about 40%) have high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

All three chronic illnesses increase a person’s risk for serious health complications, including cardiovascular disease and stroke, which are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the U.S., respectively. Stroke is a leading cause of disability, according to a 2025 report from the AHA.

“Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for people living with Type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Howard Haft, a member of the American Heart Association’s National Quality Oversight Committee. “Organizations that participate in programs like this help raise awareness of the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and can improve patient outcomes. We are pleased to recognize The Wright Center for its commitment to quality care.”

In fiscal year 2024-25, The Wright Center served about 38,300 unique patients at its growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, it serves vulnerable and medically underserved populations, regardless of age, ethnic background, ZIP code, insurance status, or ability to pay. It accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program based on federal poverty guidelines that considers family size and income. No patient is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. For more information, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-209-0019.