February 19, 1999

The MGH and other Partners affiliates are participating in a four-month campaign called the "Boston Heart Party" to help educate local women about cardiovascular disease. The program will include screenings, information about cardiovascular disease risk factors and heart health management tips for women.

The campaign, running from Valentine's Day through Mother's Day, is sponsored by Partners, Pfizer, Inc., a research-based pharmaceutical company, and CareGroup, a health care system that includes Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The Boston Heart Party screenings will be held at more than 60 sites around the Boston area and will be administered by health care professionals from Partners, CareGroup and the organizations' affiliated health centers. Screenings will include such tests as blood pressure measurement, cholesterol and glucose testing and individualized risk factor profiles. The results will be given to each woman at the time of screening, and physician referrals will be provided upon request. The screenings are open to all women free of charge.

"Getting the word out about the active steps people can take to help stay well and reduce their chances of developing heart disease needs to be a higher priority on the nation's agenda," says G. William Dec, MD, director of MGH Clinical Cardiology. "The Boston Heart Party gets the word out on a community level."

MGH health centers and primary care practices will be participating in the Boston Heart Party screenings on the following dates:

• MGH·Charlestown HealthCare Center, 73 High St., Charlestown, Feb. 24; March 10, 31; April 7, 28; May 5 – all from 6 to 8 pm.

• MGH East, CNY, Building 149, April 30 – 11 am to 3 pm.

• MGH·Revere HealthCare Center, 300 Broadway, Revere, March 11 – 11 am to 3 pm; 300 Ocean Ave., Revere, April 8  – 4:30 to 6:30 pm.

• MGH·Chelsea HealthCare Center, 151 Everett Ave., Chelsea, May 7 – 11 am to 4 pm.

• Boston Evening Medical Center, 388 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Feb. 27; March 20; April 24; May 8 – all from 12:30 to 2:30 pm.

For more information about the MGH's participation in the Boston Heart Party, call (800) 711-4MGH.