Primary Care Partners of South Bend has been recognized as the #1 family medicine practice for hypertension management within the Aledade Midwest Accountable Care Organization (ACO), ranked first among more than 40 practices across the region.
What an ACO Is and What This Ranking Reflects
An Accountable Care Organization is a group of primary care practices that work together to improve patient health outcomes. Primary Care Partners of South Bend is part of the Aledade Midwest ACO, which includes more than 40 family medicine practices across the region.
Each practice is evaluated on clinical quality measures, including how effectively they manage patients with hypertension. Ranking #1 for hypertension management means that our patients with high blood pressure are achieving better blood pressure control, on average, than patients at any other practice in the group
Why This Matters
According to the CDC, nearly half of all American adults – about 119.9 million people – have hypertension. Only about 1 in 4 have it under control.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure has no reliable symptoms, which is part of what makes it dangerous. It’s the leading modifiable risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the two leading causes of death in the United States. It also contributes to kidney disease, vision loss, and other serious complications. When blood pressure is brought under control, the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death drops significantly.
What Hypertension Management Looks Like at This Practice
This ranking reflects day-to-day work rather than a single program or initiative.
For patients managing hypertension, care at Primary Care Partners of South Bend includes:
- Follow-up calls between appointments to check in on how patients are doing and whether their numbers are staying on track
- Medication tracking — reviewing current prescriptions, watching for interactions, and adjusting dosages when readings trend out of range
- Proactive outreach when blood pressure readings are elevated, rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit
- Annual check-ups that look at the full picture: blood pressure, family history, lifestyle factors, and any other conditions that affect cardiovascular risk
Managing hypertension well requires consistency. The patients who do best are the ones who stay engaged: keeping their appointments, taking their medications as prescribed, and reaching out when something changes.
Understanding Your Numbers
If you haven’t had your blood pressure checked recently, here’s what the ranges mean:
- Normal: Less than 120/80 mmHg
- Elevated: 120–129 systolic, less than 80 diastolic
- Stage 1 Hypertension: 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic
- Stage 2 Hypertension: 140/90 mmHg or higher
The standard treatment goal is below 140/90 mmHg, per guidelines from the American Academy of Family Physicians. Most patients can reach and maintain that target with the right combination of lifestyle adjustments, medication management, and consistent follow-up.
Schedule Your Annual Check-Up
Whether you’ve been managing high blood pressure for years, were recently told your numbers are elevated, or simply haven’t had a check-up in a while, your annual visit is the right starting point.
An annual check-up gives your provider a complete picture of your health and a chance to address blood pressure, medications, family history, and a care plan for the year ahead. This visit is important for adults and kids alike.
- Call us: (574) 251-1200
- Schedule online: primarycaresb.com
- Patient Portal: Established patients can message their provider directly
