Million Hearts Colorado: Task Force Recommends Clinical Decision-Support Systems for CVD Prevention

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends clinical decision-support systems (CDSS) for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) based on sufficient evidence of effectiveness in improving screening for CVD risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol and practices for CVD-related preventive care services, clinical tests, and treatments. 

Most of the available evidence is from studies on the effectiveness of CDSS when implemented alone in the healthcare system rather than as part of a coordinated service delivery effort that is intended to address barriers at the patient, provider, organizational, and community levels. More evidence is needed about implementation of CDSS as one part of a comprehensive service delivery system designed to improve outcomes for CVD risk factors and reduce CVD-related morbidity and mortality.

Read the full Task Force Finding and Rationale Statement for details including implementation issues, possible added benefits, potential harms, and evidence gaps.

Blood pressure and cholesterol management are key strategies of the  Million Hearts Initiative, an effort to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over five years.  Colorado participates in this initiative and you can too. Be one in a million - make your commitment and pledge today.