Piedmont's 2025 Community Impact Report details how targeted solutions to hypertension drive real change

Atlanta, Ga. (June 16, 2026) - Piedmont has introduced targeted solutions to expand access to care for patients with hypertension (also called high blood pressure), a leading cause of death in Georgia and one of the system’s community health priorities. The story of how Piedmont is addressing hypertension – and more – is recounted in detail in Piedmont’s 2025 Community Impact Report.

As a nonprofit healthcare system, Piedmont serves its communities by delivering care across clinics, hospitals, and ambulatory sites — and by strengthening health and well-being through meaningful programs and partnerships.

The targeted solutions that Piedmont has implemented to address hypertension include medication adherence programs, remote monitoring, and virtual visits. Roughly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure – nearly 120 million people – according to the Centers for Disease Control. As a system, Piedmont is responsible for controlling the blood pressure of approximately 330,000 people.

Piedmont is performing among the top third of health systems in the nation in controlling hypertension among adult patients. Over the past two years, Piedmont’s efforts have resulted in over 20,000 additional patients with blood pressure under control – an improvement of 6.3 percent.  

“As a non-profit, Piedmont invests back into its communities and finding solutions to hypertension is one of our top priorities due to its serious and preventable implications in leading to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and kidney damage, among others,” Piedmont President and CEO Kevin Brown said. “The need across Georgia was found in our Community Health Needs Assessments” – or CHNAs.

“Piedmont’s total community investment exceeded $844 million in 2025,” Brown added, “and nearly 40 percent of that total went to health improvement and community support, including our programs to address hypertension.”

Piedmont’s commitment to improving hypertension in its communities was highlighted in the system’s most recent brand campaign. Mac Bowman, M.D., an Augusta-based cardiologist who is a leader in community health in the Central Savannah River Area, was featured in a local barbershop where Piedmont conducted outreach involving customers to check their blood pressure. Piedmont’s outreach to conduct blood pressure checks throughout its communities remains ongoing.

In its full scope, the Community Impact Report highlights Piedmont’s outreach, activities, and health initiatives across Georgia, and shows how the organization’s team members improve community health through education, sponsorships, and expanded access to services.

In June 2025, Piedmont formed a Hypertension Steering Committee, led by the Primary Care Clinical Governance Council (CGC), to align systemwide efforts, review metrics, address barriers and coordinate initiatives. The committee guides evidence-based strategies to improve blood pressure control across care settings and communities.

Piedmont’s local Community Relations teams further support efforts outlined in the CHNAs through screenings, education and outreach that engage communities and promote better hypertension management.

Other findings of the Community Impact Report are that Piedmont performed or participated in:

• More than 1,700 community events in which physicians or staff shared knowledge in the communities Piedmont serves.
• More than 3,200 events in which Piedmont brought care to local communities, beyond the walls of clinics and hospitals.
• More than 1,100 sponsorships or other support of other community and/or nonprofit organizations.
• More than 630 community events in which Piedmont physicians or staff lent expertise.