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NATIONAL HEART MONTH ACTIVITIES AIM TO RAISE AWARENESS
AMONG WOMEN AND THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

Today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health announced the availability of a free Web-based provider education Continuing Medical Education (CMS) program on women and heart disease. The CME program is part of a comprehensive set of educational materials developed for physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals as part of The Heart Truth Professional Education Campaign. The CME program is available at http://www.womenshealth.gov/hearttruth/cme.cfm.

"For the busy physician, the Web-based modules can be accessed at any time and provide evidence-based up-to-date information on preventing, diagnosing and treating heart disease in women," said Wanda K. Jones, Dr.P.H., deputy assistant secretary for health (women's health). The Web-based program is part of The Heart Truth Professional Education Campaign, a collaborative effort of the OWH's National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health, the National Community Centers of Excellence in Women's Health and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

The campaign includes presentation materials for professionals that can be downloaded to educate and train health care providers and students in the form of slide sets, problem-based learning cases, provider pocket cards and links to guidelines information and other resources. All professional education materials are posted at www.womenshealth.gov/hearttruth. Consumers can find materials on heart health at www.hearttruth.gov.

"Since its inception, The Heart Truth program has encouraged health professionals to talk to women about heart disease, assess their risk, and motivate them to take action to reduce their risk. This incredibly powerful CME program can help with these important goals. The Office on Women's Health has done a stellar job of creating these materials in partnership with NHLBI and we hope that health care providers take advantage of this opportunity to bring The Heart Truth to their patients," said NHLBI Director Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D.

The release of the CME program coincides with American Heart Month, which is celebrated throughout the month of February. Among the many events held throughout the month will be 16 health fairs in cities nationwide, hosted by Sister to Sister; Everyone has a Heart Foundation in collaboration with NHLBI; OWH and other nationwide partners on February 16. More information on the health fairs can be found at http://www.sistertosister.org/. Close to 20,000 people visit the events every year, and half will be screened for one or more cardiovascular disease risk factors. With the Web-based CME, providers can have convenient access to the latest information on cardiovascular disease in women.

OWH was established in 1991 within HHS. OWH coordinates the efforts of all HHS agencies and offices involved in women's health. The office works to improve the health and well-being of women and girls in the United States through its innovative programs, by educating health professionals, and motivating behavior change in consumers through the dissemination of health information.

NHLBI, part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sponsors The Heart Truth a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease.