WISEWOMAN Program

Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) Program Overview

The WISEWOMAN program was created to help women understand cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction with a focus on hypertension by providing services to promote lasting heart-healthy lifestyles, including knowledge, skills, and opportunities to improve risk factors to prevent, delay, or control CVD and other chronic diseases.

Authorized by Congress in 1993, the WISEWOMAN Program is funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to extend preventive health services offered to participants enrolled in the National Breast and Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), Women’s Health Connection (WHC) Program.

WISEWOMAN Eligibility

• Clients 40 – 64 years of age
• Clients with a low-income (below or at 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level)
• Clients who are underinsured or uninsured
• Clients enrolled in the Women’s Health Connection Program
  • The intent and benefit of coupling the WHC and WISEWOMAN programs is to create a stronger link to as many clients and services

WISEWOMAN Services

• Heart disease and stroke risk factor screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, body mass index, smoking)
• Health Risk Assessment
• Risk Reduction Counseling
• Healthy Behavior Support Services and Evidence-Based Lifestyle Program
• Follow-up for patients identified with heart disease and stroke risk factors

Risk Reduction Counseling and Healthy Behavior Support Services Referral

Clients who are found to be at risk for cardiovascular disease are referred to Risk Reduction Counseling. Risk Reduction Counseling interprets a client’s health risk assessment and screening test results for possible health-related recommendations and refers them to a Healthy Behavior Support Service. Healthy Behavior Support Services include Health Coaching to improve and maintain health, and Evidence-Based Lifestyle Programs to assist promote and sustain healthy behaviors.