Abstract 309: Prioritizing Blood Pressure Measurements Results In Improved Hypertension Control

Author(s):  
Olufunso W Odunukan ◽  
Stephen Cha ◽  
Ahmed S Rahman ◽  
Daniel Roellinger ◽  
James M Naessens ◽  
...  

Background: Blood pressure (BP) measurement is a national core quality measure for hypertension care and hypertension control rates remain a major performance measure. It remains unclear whether improving measurement directly results in better control rates in hypertension management. Purpose: To utilize electronic medical records to explore the relationship between measurement of blood pressure and hypertension control rates among 4 eligible primary care providers groups - Primary Care Internal Medicine (PCIM), Family medicine (FM), General Internal Medicine (GIM), Preventive Medicine (PREV) - and 2 eligible specialist groups - Cardiology (CARD), Nephrology (NEPH) at an academic group medical practice. Methods: A two year cross sectional study involving adults seen by eligible primary or specialist providers at 2 or more office visits with a hypertension ICD-9 code in two years with at least one office visit in the measurement year. We measured the proportion of patients who had their BP measured at their last hypertension visit (LHV) in 2009 and 2010. We compared measurement rates with control rates as defined by the proportion of hypertension patients with BP < 140/90 mmHg at their LHV. Results: In 2009, 84.2% of 17989 patients (95% CI 83.6 - 84.7%) had their BP measured at their LHV compared to 85.3% (95% CI 84.8 - 85.8%) of 17992 patients in 2010, an increase of 1.2% (p=0.0026). Measurement rates varied widely across the different provider groups. PCIM, a high performing group, had significant improvement in measurement rates from 2009 to 2010 and demonstrated improvement in control rates. Lower performing groups, Nephrology and GIM, had significant improvement in measurement but did not see a direct translation to improved control rates. There was an associated worsening of the control rates for Preventive medicine along with a decrease in the measurement rates from 2009 to 2010. Conclusion: High BP measurement rates are associated with high hypertension control rates. Prioritizing BP measurement may result in improved intermediate outcomes in hypertension management.

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason J Sico ◽  
Edward J Miech ◽  
Teresa M Damush ◽  
Ava B Keating ◽  
Gregory W Arling ◽  
...  

Introduction: Many patients with TIA/minor stroke do not achieve goal blood pressure their cerebrovascular event, thereby remaining at high risk for future events. Understanding the influence of contextual factors associated with post-event hypertension management may inform future intervention studies. Methods: As part of a national, observational study of TIA/minor stroke care across the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), in-person site visits were conducted at participating VHA medical centers in 2014-15. Semi-structured interviews were used to elicit provider perspectives about local practices related to the care of TIA/minor stroke patients. Study team members systematically applied codes transcribed files using qualitative, categorical, and quantitative descriptive codebooks. Investigators used Thematic Content Analysis and mixed-methods matrix displays to analyze coded data, generate, and then validate findings. Results: Seventy interviews were obtained from staff at 14 sites. Several contextual factors appeared to influence post-event hypertension care delivery for patients after a TIA/minor stroke. Neurologists reported that they perceived no direct responsibility for managing post-event blood pressure and were uncertain whether recommendations regarding blood pressure management were being implemented in primary care. Primary care providers expressed hesitancy about titrating antihypertensive medications post-event, citing concerns about permissive hypertension. Providers also reported that poor blood pressure control was not as salient to patients as symptoms, leading some patients to not adhere to their antihypertensives or not feel a sense of urgency in seeking prompt medical attention. VHA facilities did not have protocols to guide providers in the treatment of post-TIA/minor stroke hypertension, with centers expressing little compulsion to develop them. Conclusions: Multiple contextual factors at the provider- and system-levels were identified as barriers to achieving post-cerebrovascular event hypertension control; these data have informed the design of a recently funded vascular risk factor intervention.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Rodriguez ◽  
Kevin Hwang ◽  
Jing Wang

BACKGROUND There is a lack of research on how to best incorporate home-based self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) measurements, combined with other patient-generated health data (PGHD), into electronic health record (EHR) systems in a way that promotes primary care workflow without burdening the primary care team with irrelevant or superfluous data. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of primary care providers in utilizing SMBP measurements and integrating SMBP data into the clinical workflow for the management of hypertension in the primary care setting. METHODS A total of 13 primary care physicians were interviewed in total; 5 in individual interviews and 8 in a focus group. The interview questions were centered on (1) the value of SMBP in hypertension care, (2) needs of viewing SMBP and desired visual display, (3) desired alert algorithm and critical values, (4) needs for other PGHD, and (5) workflow of primary care team in utilizing SMBP. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was performed to extract overarching themes. RESULTS The primary care experience of the 13 providers ranged from 5 to 35 years. The following themes emerged from the individual and focus group interviews: (1) ways to utilize SMBP measurements in primary care, (2) preferred visual display of SMBP, (3) patient condition determines preferred scheduling of patient SMBP measurements and provider’s preferred frequency of viewing SMBP data, (4) effect of patient condition on alert parameters, (5) location to receive critical value alerts, (6) primary recipient of critical value alerts, and (7) the need of additional PGHD (eg, emotional stressors, food diary, and medication adherence) to provide context of SMBP values. CONCLUSIONS The perspectives of primary care providers need to be incorporated into the design of a built-in interface in the EHR to incorporate SMBP and other PGHD. Future usability evaluation should be conducted with mock-up interfaces to solicit opinions on the optimal alert frequency and mechanism to best fit the workflow in the primary care setting. Future studies should examine how the utilization of a built-in interface that fully integrates SMBP measurements and PGHD into EHR systems can support patient self-management and thus, improve patient outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S523-S524
Author(s):  
Genevieve Allen ◽  
Jamie Riddell

Abstract Background HIV remains a problem for adolescents with 21% of new infections in the United States in 2018 occurring in youth. In this study we attempted to assess the knowledge of and comfort with pre-exposure prophylaxis and universal HIV testing among adolescent primary care providers affiliated with one academic medical center. Methods We conducted a survey of internal medicine/pediatrics, pediatrics, and family medicine residents and attending physicians affiliated with an academic medical center. Data collected included provider prescribing and referring habits for PrEP and information on their universal HIV testing habits. A “test your knowledge” section followed the survey which asked participants to name PrEP medications and to correctly select laboratory monitoring required for PrEP. Correct answers and prescribing resources were provided on completion of the survey. Results 138 (76%) respondents were aware that PrEP is approved for adolescents. There was no significant difference across specialties or between residents and attendings. 44.8% of respondents felt uncomfortable prescribing PrEP and two thirds had never prescribed PrEP. Reasons for not prescribing PrEP included: not seeing adolescents who qualify (n=80), not having enough training (66), confidentiality concerns (22), forgetting to address PrEP (19), and concern incidence of HIV is too low to recommend PrEP (15). Pediatricians were the least likely to test for HIV with 11% of pediatrician, 32% of internal medicine/pediatric, and 38% of family medicine respondents reported universal HIV testing for patients 15 years and older (p &lt; 0.05). Residents were more likely to test for HIV than attendings (33.3% versus 16%, p &lt; 0.05). 111 participants completed the “test your knowledge” section. 31.5% correctly named two approved PrEP medications. There were 183 responses to the survey (49% response rate). Conclusion Adolescent primary care providers are aware that PrEP is FDA approved for adolescents but a gap in PrEP prescribing and HIV testing persists. There remain perceptions that HIV incidence is too low to discuss PrEP and that providers are not seeing patients who qualify. Next steps include developing an institutional PrEP guideline and creating an electronic medical record order set to facilitate PrEP prescribing. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Innocent K. Besigye ◽  
Vicent Okuuny ◽  
Mari Armstrong-Hough ◽  
Anne R. Katahoire ◽  
Nelson K. Sewankambo ◽  
...  

Background: Early diagnosis of hypertension prevents a significant number of complications and premature deaths. In resource-variable settings, diagnosis may be limited by inadequate access to blood pressure (BP) machines. We sought to understand the availability, functionality and access of BP machines at the points of care within primary care facilities in Tororo district, Uganda.Methods: This was an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study combining a structured facility checklist and key informant interviews with primary care providers. The checklist was used to collect data on availability and functionality of BP machines within their organisational arrangements. Key informant interviews explored health providers’ access to BP machines.Results: The majority of health facilities reported at least one working BP machine. However, Health providers described limited access to machines because they are not located at each point of care. Health providers reported borrowing amongst themselves within their respective units or from other units within the facility. Some health providers purchase and bring their own BP machines to the health facilities or attempted to restore the functionality of broken ones. They are motivated to search the clinic for BP machines for some patients but not others based on their perception of the patient’s risk for hypertension.Conclusion: Access to BP machines at the point of care was limited. This makes hypertension screening selective based on health providers’ perception of the patients’ risk for hypertension. Training in proper BP machine use and regular maintenance will minimise frequent breakdowns.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Khadijah E. Abdallah ◽  
Kathleen A. Calzone ◽  
Jean F. Jenkins ◽  
Melissa E. Moss ◽  
Sherrill L. Sellers ◽  
...  

Objective: The debate over use of race as a proxy for genetic risk of disease continues, but little is known about how primary care providers (nurse practitioners and general internal medicine physicians) currently use race in their clinical practice. Our study in­vestigates primary care providers’ use of race in clinical practice.Methods: Survey data from three cross-sectional parent studies were used. A total of 178 nurse practitioners (NPs) and 759 general internal medicine physicians were included. The outcome of interest was the Racial At­tributes in Clinical Evaluation (RACE) scale, which measures explicit use of race in clinical decision-making. Predictor variables included the Genetic Variation Knowledge Assessment Index (GKAI), which measures the providers’ knowledge of human genetic variation.Results: In the final multivariable model, NPs had an average RACE score that was 1.60 points higher than the physicians’ score (P=.03). The GKAI score was not significantly associated with the RACE outcome in the final model (P=.67).Conclusions: Physicians had more knowl­edge of genetic variation and used patients’ race less in the clinical decision-making process than NPs. We speculate that these differences may be related to differences in discipline-specific clinical training and approaches to clinical care. Further explora­tion of these differences is needed, including examination of physicians’ and NPs’ beliefs about race, how they use race in disease screening and treatment, and if the use of race is contributing to health care dispari­ties.Ethn Dis.2019;29(1):1-8; doi:10.18865/ ed.29.1.1.


Author(s):  
Olufunso W Odunukan ◽  
Vwaire Orhurhu ◽  
Macaulay Nwojo ◽  
Ahmed S Rahman ◽  
James M Naessens ◽  
...  

Background: Hypertension (HTN) control rate is a core clinical quality measure. It is presently assessed by manual review of a random sample of patients with HTN billing claims. There is an increasing push by regulators towards the use of electronic medical records (EMR) to assess quality of care. Purpose: To use EMR to obtain a more in-depth assessment of quality of hypertension care. Methods: Cross sectional study involving adults with HTN seen at 2 or more office visits in 2009 by eligible primary or specialist providers at a large medical group practice. We measured the proportion of HTN patients with blood pressure (BP) at goal (BP < 140/90 mm Hg) at their last hypertension visit (LHV). Results: Of a total of 10,401 patients, 5970 (57%) were controlled and 1959 (19%) were uncontrolled at their LHV. Control could not be assessed in 2472 (24%) as BP values were unavailable from the vital signs section of the visit notes in the EMR. Of a random sample of 250 patients with unavailable BP, only 94 (37.6%) had BP values documented in other parts of the visit note. In 29 patients (11.6%) billing for HTN was done without adequate evidence that it was addressed at that visit. Control rates were highest for primary care providers where measurement and documentation of BP was a focus - Family Medicine 77% controlled, 1% unavailable; Primary Care Internal Medicine 71% controlled, 4% unavailable. A considerable proportion of patients in the other four provider groups did not have BP available from their last hypertension visit - Cardiology 59% controlled, 22% unavailable; Nephrology 38% controlled, 47% unavailable; Preventive Medicine 48% controlled, 39% unavailable; General Internal Medicine 41% controlled, 45% unavailable. Control rates were similar across provider groups when patients with unavailable BP were excluded: Family Medicine 78%, Primary Care 74%, Cardiology 75%, Nephrology 73%, Preventive Medicine 79%, and General Medicine 75%. Conclusions: Up to a quarter of HTN patients did not have properly documented BP in the EMR at their LHV. For those with measurements recorded, control rates were similar across primary care and specialty clinics, but measurement rates were higher for primary care practices. Use of the EMR facilitates efficient and granular assessment of the measurement process and control rates for HTN among various provider groups.


Author(s):  
Ashley Fenton ◽  
Phyllis Sharps ◽  
Karan Kverno ◽  
Jill RachBeisel ◽  
Marsha Gorth

BACKGROUND: Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia spectrum disorders, severe bipolar disorder, or severe recurrent major depressive disorder have a shorter life expectancy compared with those in the general population. This is largely due to the higher rates of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Treatment adherence, diet, exercise, and weight management are modifiable risk factors for these cardiometabolic conditions, yet the use of educational lifestyle interventions is not common practice in the clinical setting. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this project was to evaluate a 12-week evidence-based diabetes prevention education program integrated into a primary care behavioral health setting for adults with SMI, diabetes, or prediabetes, and who were overweight or obese. STUDY DESIGN: Outcomes for this project included diabetes knowledge, self-care, and health indicators (blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C, weight, body mass index, and medication adherence). The project also addressed feasibility and acceptability of the program in this setting. RESULTS: Project outcomes showed a reduction in weight, waist circumference, hemoglobin A1C, and blood pressure. Outcomes also indicated an improvement in participants’ self-knowledge and self-care. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high attendance rate and overall acceptability and feasibility described by participants. This project highlights the important role that primary care providers can play in providing health education to patients with SMI.


CJEM ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (S1) ◽  
pp. S73-S73
Author(s):  
K. Eppler ◽  
D. Wang ◽  
T.P. Pollak ◽  
E.S. Lang

Introduction: Hypertension is common and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Because it is asymptomatic, its diagnosis is often delayed. For many Canadians the Emergency Department (ED) is the only point of entry to the health care system, and therefore the recognition of undiagnosed and untreated hypertension in the ED is increasingly important. This study sought to evaluate the prevalence and severity of hypertension in patients presenting to Calgary area EDs, as well as to determine whether medical therapy was initiated and if patients had primary care providers for follow-up. Methods: Multi-centre electronic medical record (EMR) review of all adult patients presenting to Calgary area EDs from January 1, 2016 to December 31st, 2016. Hypertension was coded electronically by triage nurses and defined as systolic blood pressure SBP 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure DBP 90 mmHg. Hypertensive urgency was defined as SBP 180 mmHg and/or DBP 120 mmHg. Descriptive data was used to show patient demographics and hypertension prevalence. Primary care provider status, previous diagnosis of hypertension, chief complaint, and ED diagnoses were extracted and the EMRs were manually searched to determine whether treatment was initiated in the ED. Results: Of 304392 patients presenting to all Calgary sites, 43055 (14%) were found to have hypertension; mean age 52 (range 18 to 104), female 42%. Of these, 32986 (77%) had no known previous hypertension and 31% lacked a primary care provider. 0.2% had documentation of treatment initiated in the ED. 16% met criteria for hypertensive urgency. Conclusion: Many patients presenting to the ED have hypertension, often previously undiagnosed and at times severe. Many lack access to primary care. EDs may play an important role in the early recognition of hypertension. Dedicated management and follow-up pathways are indicated for this high-risk population.


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