· Focus on the newly diagnosed - Nickey Rosol (YMCA of Metro Detroit) found success with her program by focusing on individuals that are newly diagnosed with High Blood Pressure. These individuals are “motivated to make a change; they want to monitor to be sure their medication is working” says Deb Dryer (Cadillac YMCA)
· Build a relationship with other blood pressure screening programs - Deb D. also found success by developing a relationship with the local hospital that visits the senior center where the BP Program is located. Relationships could lead to more referrals, introductions to other staff at the hospital or even financial support for the program.
· Reach out to underserved communities - Ann Brennan (Ann Arbor YMCA) views underserved communities - specifically Spanish speaking - as an avenue to reach high risk individuals. Materials in Spanish were made available on yexchange.org in mid-July, and other languages are sure to follow.
· Sell the program - Recruiting participants starts with listening. When talking with a potential participant find out what their BP experience has been like, if they are interested in taking steps to decrease their BP, better manage their medication or even reduce the need for medication. When you know what motivates them to have it checked you can form your pitch to meet their needs.
· Get educated - Several Y’s reported that Healthy Heart Ambassadors are sometimes asked questions that are out of their scope of work. Arm your team with brochures, FAQs, and other information from reputable organizations (like the American Heart Association, National Stroke Association, and Y-USA), and be ready to direct participants to their doctor to get more patient-specific answers.
For more information go to yexchange.org