Zufall Health is proud to announce that it was one of just 11 organizations nationwide selected through a competitive application process to receive a grant through the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care (the “Collaborative”), funded by the Merck Foundation (the “Foundation”). This five-year initiative is aimed at enhancing access to high-quality, person-centered health care for people living with heart conditions in the U.S. Zufall was awarded a grant to develop and implement local programs that will help to close gaps in the delivery of cardiac care in northern and central New Jersey.

“Despite advances in cardiovascular care, many of our patients face barriers that prevent them from fully benefiting,” said Zufall President and CEO Fran Palm. “Thanks to the Merck Foundation, we are establishing the Center for Justice in Cardiovascular Health to make access to evidence-based heart health services more equitable. This comprehensive initiative will integrate personalized cardiovascular care with social support with the goal of improving heart health outcomes and reducing emergency room utilization for medically underserved people in our community.”

Most of Zufall patients earn incomes no more than two times the Federal Poverty Level and are either uninsured or Medicaid-enrolled. In 2024, about 30% of adult patients across Zufall’s seven-county service area were living with or deemed at risk for cardiovascular disease, a broad group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. Patients’ ability to prevent or manage these conditions is often limited by social challenges like low income, food insecurity, limited transportation, lack of insurance, trauma, and restricted access to specialists.

A Zufall nutrition educator demonstrates cooking a healthy meal at a wellness event for patients at risk of heart disease.

To address these complex challenges, the Center will unify Zufall’s previous smaller and shorter-term cardiovascular interventions into a single, system-wide effort. Using past data and lessons learned, the team will identify and stratify patients by risk, provide tailored treatment and case management, and leverage its network of community partners to address social barriers.

“While we modestly anticipate serving 1,000 patients in the five-year grant period, our goal is for the Center to become a permanent part of our primary care model and a blueprint for other health centers nationwide,” said Rina Ramirez, Chief Medical Officer.

“Cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one cause of death for men and women living in the U.S., and its burden hits under-resourced communities the hardest. By addressing the medical and social needs of people living with heart conditions, the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care will have a significant, lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities across the country,” said Kalahn Taylor-Clark, vice president and head, Social Impact & Sustainability, Merck.

In addition to Zufall, Collaborative program grantees include Capital Health System; La Clínica del Pueblo; Public Health Institute/Population Health Innovation Lab; University of Chicago; UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care; Providence Medical Foundation; The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness; Georgia State University Research Foundation/Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement; MedNorth Health Center and Gallup Community Health.

Zufall’s Clinical Pharmacists like Pablo Fragoso, RPh, will be an integral part of Zufall’s Center for Justice in Cardiovascular Health. Clinical Pharmacists will play a key role in supporting medication adherence by providing clear guidance on proper usage, addressing potential side effects, and helping patients navigate barriers such as cost, access, or prescription confusion.

As a Collaborative, grantees will discuss strategies and share lessons learned to bridge gaps in the delivery of care for a range of heart conditions and advance sustainable, and potentially scalable, approaches to improve the lives of people with heart disease.

The Foundation is also supporting the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity as the Collaborative’s National Program Office, which will provide technical assistance to grantees as they build local partnerships and implement their programs. The National Program Office will also foster peer-to-peer learning among grantees, conduct a cross-site evaluation and disseminate the Collaborative’s results and lessons learned.

Above: Zufall Physician Assistant Karen Dittman, PA, counsels a patient on strategies to maintain healthy arteries and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.