Kacie Hutton (left) and Jill Matlock, both prevention specialists with the Wyoming
Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention Program, look over educational materials
that are part of blood pressure kits available at the Natrona County Library. The
kits are offered through a collaborative pilot project involving the Wyoming Center
on Aging at the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Department of Health’s Chronic
Disease Prevention Program and each library system in all 23 Wyoming counties. (Kyle
Spradley Photo)
Self-measured blood pressure monitoring kits are now available for checkout at libraries
across the state. The kits are offered through a collaborative pilot project involving
the Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) at the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Department
of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention Program and each library system in all 23 Wyoming
counties.
In all, 252 blood pressure monitoring kits are available at 67 libraries.
The project started out small with what was supposed to be a four-county pilot project
in Albany, Converse, Park and Sweetwater counties. But, after WyCOA staff attended
the Wyoming Library Association Conference in Casper in October 2022, the project
quickly grew.
“We were able to demonstrate the kits to the library professionals, and they were
so excited. They all asked when their library was next in line for kits,” says Kara
Beech, a regional coordinator with WyCOA.
“It was exciting to see how the libraries want to not only provide books but be an
information and resources hub for their community,” adds Kevin Franke, a regional
coordinator with WyCOA. “They were a great group of individuals to work with on this
project.”
The kits, available in both English and Spanish, include an automated home blood pressure
cuff; blood pressure logbooks; educational materials from the American Heart Association;
information on what blood pressure is; and ideas for healthy lifestyle changes. The
kits also include a resource directory to local community-based organizations and
referral resources to the Healthy U chronic disease self-management program and Cent$ible
Nutrition Program.
The loan period is two or three weeks, depending on the library. Blood pressure kits
can be renewed, up to two times, if there are no holds on the item.
Nearly half of adults in the United States — 47 percent, or 116 million — have high
blood pressure, also known as hypertension, or are taking medication for hypertension,
and 24 percent with hypertension have their condition under control, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Wyoming, 30.7 percent of adults have been told that they have high blood pressure,
according to the Wyoming Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention Program.
While self-measured blood pressure is not a substitute for regular visits to primary
care physicians, it is a way for individuals to see and track their numbers, giving
them more information that can be communicated to their doctors.
“Information is power and, the more information a patient and their doctor have, the
better the treatment plan,” Beech says. “Better treatment plans lead to better overall
health. That’s the goal of this project — to work to improve the health of our communities.”
Libraries around the state are committed to building and supporting strong, healthy
communities. This project provided a unique opportunity to offer communities more
information about self-monitored blood pressure and its important role in health.
“We’re excited to partner with the Wyoming Department of Health and WyCOA to bring
these much-needed resources to the community,” says Lisa Scroggins, executive director
of the Natrona County Library.
To watch a video about this program, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmm4Y4x_JDc.
To learn more about WyCOA and its programs, go to www.uwyo.edu/wycoa/.