Community Focus

Lessons in blood pressure management beginning at Bellevue College

24 February 2025

Nearly half of individuals living in Washington have high blood pressure which puts them at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Collaborating with the American Heart Association - the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of healthier lives for all - with support from Providence Health Plan, Bellevue College has launched a new program called “Student-Championed Self-Measured Blood Pressure” designed to increase awareness of the risks of high blood pressure and make available tools and resources to identify and manage high blood pressure. The program is part of the Embracing Community Care initiative led by the American Heart Association and backed by Providence Health Plan (PHP) and contributes toward the goal of supporting 20 community organizations and clinics across Washington and Oregon.

The Student-Championed Self-Measured Blood Pressure program will be available to any student or staff member through Bellevue College’s new Health Promotion Management (HPM) Hub in the T Building on the Bellevue College campus. If an individual’s blood pressure reading is high when screened, they are eligible to participate in the program and will be loaned a device to measure their blood pressure at home along with information about what the readings mean and ideas on how improve blood pressure numbers. Resources will be available in six languages: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean, and Arabic, the main languages spoken by the campus community. Participants will also be provided with referral information to local Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) to access low-or-no cost healthcare in the area. The program will help bridge access to primary care and encourage students to pay attention to their health.

“At Bellevue College, our goal is to offer students a healthy environment to learn,” said Tamara Boynton Howard, program chair, health promotion and education, Bellevue College. “By making blood pressure screenings and resources available, we are helping to build a campus culture of health by meeting students where they are and supporting their health and wellness goals. Chronic stress is an issue reported by our students and faculty, which can increase blood pressure. If we address risk factors, we all have a better opportunity to build a lifetime of health.”

To further identify and enroll eligible participants, Bellevue College plans to host a regular cadence of blood pressure screening events beginning in mid-March. These events will be led by students completing practicum requirements in the Health Education and Promotion program with additional support from HPM Hub assistants and nursing program students.

“Providence Health Plan is proud to support this program which connects to our objectives around Health For All—to not just treat illness, but to actively promote health equity and wellness in the communities we serve,” said Kevin Corcoran, vice president, sales, Providence Health Plan and chairperson, American Heart Association, Executives with Heart Washington. “In addition to ensuring the availability of blood pressure resources for the campus community, this program also gives the students leading the work real life experience in healthcare fields. It’s a collaboration that will build healthier futures.”