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in the spotlight
 
 
 

Los Angeles Heart & Stroke Walk raises over $1.4 million
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Bertha Hidalgo, Ph.D. (left) and
Brooke Aggarwal, Ed.D., FAHA (right)

 
Research Goes Red awards first grants to women researchers
You asked, and we listened. New Research Goes Red grants will help scientists understand heart disease in young women and how menopausal weight changes affect cardiovascular health.

Two women investigators received the first round of grant funding from Research Goes Red — a collaboration of the AHA Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine, Go Red for Women and Verily’s Project Baseline to engage more women in clinical studies.

Bertha Hidalgo, Ph.D., associate professor, department of epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, will use her grant to support her two-year project, “Preventing CVD and Stroke Among Millennial Women: A Dissemination Science and Social Media Approach.”

Brooke Aggarwal, Ed.D., FAHA, a funded investigator within the Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network and an assistant professor of medical sciences at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, will lead a study focused on women’s health at the intersection of menopause, weight gain and health habits.

As of October 1, 252,463 women had visited the Research Goes Red website, 30,391 had registered and 10,600 had consented to participate in research studies.
 
 
 


 
Medicare expands coverage of cardiac rehab telehealth
Effective immediately, Medicare will begin paying eligible practitioners for 11 additional services delivered via telehealth, including certain cardiac rehabilitation and monitoring services. This is the first time since the announcement of a new expedited process that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is adding to the Medicare telehealth services list. This update builds on the efforts CMS has taken to increase Medicare beneficiaries’ access to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CMS also released a supplement to the State Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit: Policy Considerations for States Expanding Use of Telehealth, COVID-19 Version to provide additional support to state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies in their adoption and implementation of telehealth.
 
 
 


Maria de Lourdes Alvarado (top right) observes Day of the Day Laborer

 
Hispanics paying the price for being 'essential' during pandemic
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Maria de Lourdes Alvarado — like millions of essential workers — has picked up extra or overtime shifts whenever she can.

The Los Angeles nonprofit where she works as an administrator, the Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California, provides the Hispanic community with relief from economic, personal and medical fallout from the pandemic. At a funeral home, where she works on the weekend, she has witnessed the toll on families like hers.

“Working with day laborers and household workers has really opened my eyes to see how the Latino community is often left behind,” she said.

A recent study found that Latinos 65 years and older were two times more likely to die from the coronavirus than white non-Latinos of the same age group. By the end of September, Hispanics made up 29% of nearly 2.7 million cases tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 16.6% of over 121,000 deaths.

The Hispanic community already faces high rates of uncontrolled hypertension, obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease, raising the risk of COVID-19 complications.

The economic picture is equally concerning. According to a Pew Research Center study, 6 of 10 Hispanics live in households that have experienced job losses or cuts in wages.

Alvarado’s husband, an automobile detailer, lost his job in March. Their 23-year-old son recently graduated from college and is struggling to find employment as well. Her 16-year-old son is home completing his high school education online.

"I work so hard because I've become the main provider for my family," she said.

Although she has been mindful of wearing her mask, following hygiene protocols, and physical distancing while around other people, she came down with COVID-19 in July. For 10 days, she had a fever, fatigue, headaches, and loss of sense of smell and taste. Then, after a few days of feeling better, the fever returned.

"It was a roller coaster," she said.

Now that Alvarado has recovered and returned to work, she is more determined to help educate her community, especially those who only speak Spanish.

"For the Spanish-speaking communities, there has been very little information," she said. " They don't understand this."

For a discussion of solutions to this issue, tune-in to Essential, but at what cost? — a panel discussion hosted by the AHA and Univision Communications, Inc. Watch the replay in Spanish, or view the English transcript.
 
 
 


 
October 16 is World Restart a Heart Day
Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital in the United States. CPR could double or triple the chances of survival if performed right away. Yet only about 46% of people who experience cardiac arrest receive CPR from a bystander.

World Restart a Heart Day, observed October 16, is raising global awareness about the importance of bystander CPR. It’s a mission the American Heart Association lives out 365 days a year.

The message is clear: Your two hands can save a life in two steps. Step 1: Call 911. Step 2: Push hard and fast in the center of the patient’s chest to the rhythm of a familiar song that has 100 to 120 beats per minute.

Tune-in to the AHA’s Hands-Only CPR demonstration on Facebook Live October 16 at 10:55 a.m. CST and learn this invaluable skill. Join our Nation of Heartsavers movement.
 
 
 


 
Register for the virtual reveal of new CPR, ECC guidelines
By exclusive engagement on Oct. 21, the American Heart Association presents The Virtual Experience — an online premiere of its 2020 Guidelines for CPR & Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Health care providers, emergency medical services personnel and other stakeholders in public health will not want to miss this free event showcasing guideline changes, updated courses and new products from the leader in resuscitation science. You’re invited to register now.

The agenda includes the following four sessions, with times shown in CST:

9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
2020 Guidelines Science & Education Updates

11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
The New AHA Digital Resuscitation Portfolio

1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
The RQI Community: RQI and HeartCode Administrator Updates

3:30 to 5 p.m.
Overview of Updates for the AHA Training Network

New courses and materials for health care provider education and quality improvement will be available.
 
 
 

 
CEOs convene on workplace reopening
As U.S. workers weigh the risk and reward of returning to the workplace during the pandemic, employers are planning reopening with optimal health and safety in mind. This issue topped the agenda of a special briefing hosted by the American Heart Association CEO Roundtable. Leading the talks were guest expert Dr. Mark McClellan, director of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, and roundtable member Joe Ucuzoglu, CEO of Deloitte.

COVID-19 screening, according to McClellan, requires better evidence gathering in partnership with businesses, schools and communities.

Ucuzoglu agreed, adding that employers are earning employee trust by focusing on health risk mitigation.

Until safe and effective treatments and vaccines are available, the path out of the pandemic includes affordable and accessible COVID-19 testing, masking, social distancing, quarantining as needed and practicing good hygiene.

Participants agreed that co-location, or working together in the same space, optimizes innovation. They also acknowledged the negative effects of remote work on diversity and inclusion, given disparities in technology access.

The consensus was the path forward will be achieved in incremental steps.
 
 
 

 
National Volunteer Awards Weekly Winners’ Trivia
The American Heart Association’s answer to the Oscars, the National Volunteer Awards, is just 12 days away. Each week until the virtual event, Oct. 27, we’re featuring a few of the honorees. As you’ll see, they’re just as interesting as they are accomplished.

“I helped to get a citywide sugary beverage tax passed that led to sweeping health improvements.” Read my story

“What motivates me every day has not changed since I was in medical school. I still have the same passion for patient care, mentoring and research.” Read my story

 
 
 
 


Shannon Smith, AHA Government Relations Director, Kentucky

Special Announcements
 
 
Advocacy director among elite class of Kentucky’s political influencers
Shannon Smith, American Heart Association government relations director, has claimed a coveted place among the 2020 Most Notable Women in Kentucky Politics and Government. Earlier this summer, The Kentucky Gazette asked its readers and social media followers to submit the names of women “who make things happen in the world of Kentucky public affairs,” and Smith’s nomination captured judges’ attention. Her profile will be featured in a special edition of The Kentucky Gazette in December.

Congratulations, Shannon Smith, on Making an Extraordinary Impact!