Purpose:
The University of Michigan Student Run Free Clinic (UMSRFC) provides primary care to uninsured adults in Southeast Michigan. Optimal management of chronic conditions, such as hypertension, is one of the clinic’s primary goals. Our aim was to evaluate UMSRFC’s success in meeting the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Service’s (CMS’s) goal of blood pressure (BP) within the recommended values for ≥63% of clinic patients diagnosed with hypertension.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review identified hypertensive patients with at least two UMSRFC visits between April 2012 and July 2013. Age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, medications, blood pressure (BP), and comorbidities were extracted and stored in an online database. Patients were separated into two groups: those with controlled hypertension (≤140/90 mmHg for systolic/diastolic BP) at their most recent clinic date and those with uncontrolled hypertension (>140/90 mmHg for systolic/diastolic BP) at the most recent clinic visit.
Results:
Of 43 patients presenting with hypertension, 26 (60.5%) met inclusion criteria. The average age was 52.3 +/- 2.0 years, and 12 (46.2%) were male. The majority (17, 65.4%) of patients self-identified as Caucasian, and 24 (92.4%) were from Southeast Michigan. Follow-up BP was controlled for 17 (65.4%) patients. All 6 (23.1%) patients controlled at initial visit remained controlled at follow-up, and 15 (75%) of those uncontrolled at initial visit were controlled at follow-up. BP control among diabetic patients improved the most: from 1 (16.7%) to 5 (83.3%) (p=0.833) achieving control; statistical insignificance is likely due to sample size. Most patients reduced their BP with the addition of medications, but 2 (7.8%) achieved control with lifestyle changes (eg. reduced salt intake, increased exercise or improved home BP recording adherence) alone.
Conclusions:
UMSRFC has marginally exceeded CMS’s benchmark with 17 (65.4%) of patients with hypertension having a controlled blood pressure at follow-up. While this result demonstrates that a free clinic working with an uninsured population can provide quality care, UMSRFC will continue to work diligently toward the goal of controlled BP for 100% of patients with hypertension.
Commentary: Forget the Forms: Participant Observation at an Urban Free Clinic