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ECMS Foundation Blood Pressure Cuff Program
A Small Monitor. A Life-Saving Difference.
The Reality in Northwest Florida:
Over 70,000 people in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties live below the poverty line. Many working families and uninsured residents face barriers to obtaining a home blood pressure monitor - whether it's the $40-$100 cost, confusion about which monitor to purchase, lack of awareness about the importance of home monitoring, or simply other pressing expenses taking priority.
For those managing hypertension, that missing tool could mean the difference between staying healthy and suffering a preventable stroke.
Research shows that individuals in lower-income neighborhoods face significantly higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. Often, it's not because they don't want to manage their health - it's because they face barriers we can help remove.
The Proven Solution:
The ECMS Foundation Blood Pressure Cuff Program provides free at-home blood pressure monitors to patients who need them most. And the results speak for themselves.
Recent research published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine studied exactly what we do - providing free monitors to patients with uncontrolled hypertension. The findings were remarkable:
- 82% of patients who received free monitors achieved healthy blood pressure control - compared to only 54% without monitors
- Patients with monitors had 4 times higher odds of controlling their hypertension
- Medication adherence improved dramatically - having a monitor helped patients remember to take their medications
- As one patient in the study said: "I was always motivated to check my blood pressure - I just couldn't afford the machine."
With telehealth now a standard part of healthcare, patients without home monitors can't provide doctors with the data needed to safely adjust medications. A simple blood pressure cuff becomes the bridge to effective care.
How It Works:
Through our partnership with First City Drugs and a network of trusted healthcare providers - including Health and Hope Clinic, Good Samaritan Clinic, St. Joseph's Clinic, and both county health departments - we've distributed over 700 blood pressure monitors to patients across our two-county area.
Physicians and clinic staff demonstrate proper use at the point of care, ensuring patients get accurate readings from day one. The result? Fewer emergency room visits, better management of chronic conditions, and lives saved.
Community Support Making It Possible:
The ECMS Foundation is grateful to be supported by several community grants specifically awarded for our Blood Pressure Cuff Program:
- 2025 WaWa Foundation Grant Recipient
- 2025 United Way West Florida Mini Grant Recipient
- 2024 FPL/NextEra Energy Foundation Grant Recipient
- 2023 International Paper Grant Recipient
This recognition affirms what we see every day: providing simple tools to those who need them creates powerful health outcomes for our community.
Your Impact:
Every $20-$40 you donate provides a blood pressure monitor to someone who needs it. That monitor could prevent a stroke. It could keep a parent out of the hospital. It could save a life.
DONATE NOW to help us put life-saving tools in the hands of our neighbors who need them most.
Partnership Spotlight: First City Drugs
Our collaboration with First City Drugs allows us to purchase monitors in bulk at significant discounts, stretching every donation dollar further. Through their support, we've been able to serve hundreds of patients who otherwise would go without. This partnership exemplifies how local businesses can create meaningful health equity in our community.
Questions? Want to help distribute monitors through your clinic or practice?
Contact us at director@escambiacms.org