At a glance
View frequently asked questions about the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) program.
What is the WISEWOMAN program?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) WISEWOMAN program is at the forefront of the nation's efforts to achieve optimal cardiovascular health for persons 35-64 years old. The program focuses on women who are uninsured, underinsured, or have lower incomes.
WISEWOMAN extends preventive health services to achieve optimal cardiovascular health for participants of the CDC-funded National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). The program helps participants understand and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and benefit from early detection and treatment.
Participants are supported as they participate in evidence-based lifestyle programs and individual health coaching. If needed, they are referred to social services and support needs resources.
What services does the WISEWOMAN program fund?
WISEWOMAN employs evidence-based strategies proven to reduce heart disease and stroke rates through early detection and treatment of hypertension and high cholesterol. Further, it helps participants achieve the best health possible by addressing social and economic factors that lead to disparities in health care.
WISEWOMAN provides risk factor assessments, including blood pressure, diabetes, body mass index (BMI), and cholesterol screenings. The program also provides referrals to healthy behavior support services to reduce CVD risks through improved diet, physical activity, tobacco cessation, and medication adherence support. Local health departments, doctor's offices, and community health centers provide these services.
Who benefits from these services?
WISEWOMAN serves individuals aged 35 to 64 who are uninsured, underinsured and have low incomes. Through the services provided, individuals are helped to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke through early detection and treatment and, as a result, enjoy longer, healthier lives.
What is the purpose of the WISEWOMAN program?
The purpose of the WISEWOMAN Program is to:
- Ensure that individuals aged 35 to 64, who participate in NBCCEDP, receive preventive health services, including heart disease and stroke risk factor assessments.
- Facilitate collaboration among public health agencies, health care providers, and communities to integrate innovative and evidence-based approaches to optimal heart health.
- Work with clinicians and community-based organizations to provide evidence-based strategies for disease prevention and services for healthy lifestyles.
- Advance health equity and mitigate health and healthcare disparities.
- Gather and analyze data to assess WISEWOMAN Program outcomes.
How are participant outcomes assessed?
The WISEWOMAN Program focuses on five key risk factors for heart disease and stroke: (1) high blood pressure, (2) diabetes, (3) high cholesterol, (4) obesity, and (5) smoking. Participant risk factor profiles determine risk reduction counseling and offer referrals to health coaching, evidence-based lifestyle programs, and community resources, such as tobacco quitlines.
WISEWOMAN participants are assessed for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk using clinical and health behavior indicators associated with these risk factors. Participants are evaluated at the initial screening, follow-up assessment, and rescreening. CDC uses de-identified participant data to analyze changes in CVD risk over time. Programs are required to submit participant assessments twice a year.
The WISEWOMAN Program also requires that each program participate in a national evaluation and report annually on key evaluation findings and performance measures. Read a summary of the implementation of the WISEWOMAN Program's Core Strategies in years 1 and 2 (2018–2020) and an evaluation of the program's successes.
What is the relationship between the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) and the WISEWOMAN program?
In 1993, Congress authorized CDC to establish the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) Program to provide services to NBCCEDP participants. These preventive health services included assessing cardiovascular risk factors and providing services to reduce those risks through improved diet, physical activity, tobacco cessation, and medication adherence support. A focus on the health systems and community-clinical links that support these preventive health services is required.
The WISEWOMAN Program and NBCCEDP share some characteristics, but the two have significant differences. WISEWOMAN focuses on implementing and evaluating evidence-based strategies designed to reduce risks and barriers to preventing and controlling heart disease and stroke. NBCCEDP provides breast and cervical cancer screening and management.
WISEWOMAN and NBCCEDP recipients must follow the legislative requirements detailed in 42 USC. Section 300k of the Public Health Service Act1, as amended. The following chart shows the similarities and differences between the two programs.
Topic
WISEWOMAN
NBCCEDP
Program Goals
- Improve control of high blood pressure and other heart disease and stroke risk factors.
- Increase early detection of breast and cervical cancer.
- Improve quality of breast and cervical cancer screening and management.
Services Provided
- Screenings for heart disease and stroke risk factors.
- Counseling to reduce risk for heart disease and stroke.
- Patient referrals for medical evaluation and management of health condition(s) when needed.
- Follow-up appointments for uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- Patient referrals to healthy lifestyle programs, other healthy behavior support options, and low-cost medication resources.
- Screenings for breast and cervical cancers, including clinical breast exams, pap tests, and mammography.
- Diagnostic tests to follow up abnormal screenings.
- Patient referrals for eligible women with abnormal or suspicious diagnostic test results.
Who Provides Clinical Services
- Health care providers must also offer the NBCCEDP screening services.
- Providers must have staff skilled in screening for cardiovascular disease and providing patient-centered counseling to reduce risk for heart disease and stroke.
- Health care providers who offer Pap test and regular pelvic and clinical breast exam screening tests.
- Providers must be willing to coordinate the care of women enrolled in the program from screening and clinical follow-up to a final diagnosis.
Target Audience
- Women aged 35 to 64 years enrolled in the NBCCEDP.
- Cervical cancer screening: for women aged 21 to 64 years, with a focus on women who have rarely or never been screened.
- Mammography screening for women aged 40 to 64 years, with a focus on women aged 50 to 64 years.
Number of Grantees
- 35, including 32 states, 2 tribal organizations, and 1 US territory.
- All 50 US states, the District of Columbia, 5 US territories, and 11 tribes and tribal organizations.