Medication Management; Hypertensive Crisis During a Home Visit

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Kyle R. Frazier ◽  
Kimberly C. McKeirnan
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Home Visit ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Hypertensive Crisis ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Medication Regimen ◽  
Care Coordinator ◽  
Antihypertensive Medications ◽  
Self Monitoring

This report describes a case of hypertensive crisis identified by two pharmacists conducting a patient home visit. A 72-year-old woman living in a rural town in Eastern Washington state was referred for a pharmacist home visit by her care coordinator, who had concerns of possible medication-related issues. The patient had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic stroke, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, hypothyroidism, and unspecified back pain. This patient also experienced additional challenges resulting from living in a rural and medically underserved community. During the home visit, the patient's chief complaint was recurrent, painful migraine headaches that she self-treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Upon examination, the pharmacists found the patient's blood pressure to be 223/132 mm Hg and her self-monitoring log consistently showed blood pressure readings greater than 180/110 mm Hg with a pulse between 75 bpm to 80 bpm. The patient was referred to the emergency department after determining her blood pressure met criteria for hypertensive crisis despite her adherence to her current antihypertensive regimen. She was hospitalized for three days. After her hospitalization, she was referred to her primary care providers and her pharmacist for follow up. The pharmacist reconciled her current medication regimen and made guideline-directed adjustments to her antihypertensive medications. Six months after her hospitalization her blood pressure was within goal and associated headaches had resolved.

Abstract TP206: The Influence of Contextual Factors on Gaps in Hypertension Management for Veterans with TIA/Minor Stroke

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason J Sico ◽  
Edward J Miech ◽  
Teresa M Damush ◽  
Ava B Keating ◽  
Gregory W Arling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Minor Stroke ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Hypertension Management ◽  
Cerebrovascular Event ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Provider Perspectives

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.

Medication Management System Design for Isolated Patient Care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samhith Kethireddy Abigail Swamidoss ◽  
Bushra Alghamdi ◽  
Ronald L. Hickman ◽  
Shanina Knighton ◽  
Miriam Pekarek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
System Design ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Management System ◽  
Classification Tree ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Medication Regimen ◽  
Dynamic Framework ◽  
Medication Schedule ◽  
Number Of Patients

Abstract Independent living care for polypharmacy patients can be complicated in those situations with medications that are pro re nata (PRN, “as needed”). Such medication regimen may involve multiple dosing whereby specific drug contraindications might be easily overlooked by hospice and palliative care patients, or by those isolated and not in regular contact with care providers. The goal of this paper is to describe the development steps and current design of a system providing medication decision support for isolated patients. With an increased number of patients living alone or isolated - a situation exacerbated during the COVID19 pandemic – polypharmacy patients may be challenged when PRN (as needed) medications confound what might ordinarily be a routine medication schedule. Central to our medication management system design is the so-called “conversational agent” that when integrated with a natural language processing front- end and classification tree algorithm provide a dynamic framework for patient self-management of medications. Research on “patient need” revealed patients were more likely to embrace the system if the system were autonomous, secure, and not cloud-based.

Patient Digital Technologies to Support Primary Care across Disorders: Perspectives from Primary Care Providers, Behavioral Health Consultants, and Nurses (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg Zaslavsky ◽  
Frances Chu ◽  
Brenna Renn
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Health Promoting Behaviors ◽  
Live Video ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Clinical Conditions

BACKGROUND Acceptance of digital health technologies among primary care providers and staff for various clinical conditions has not been explored. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this nationwide study was to determine differences between behavioral health consultants (BHCs), primary care providers (PCPs), and nurses in acceptance of mobile apps, wearables, live video, phone, email, instant chats, text messages, social media, and patient portals to support patient care across clinical conditions. METHODS We surveyed 51 BHCs, 52 PCPs, and 48 nurses embedded in primary care clinics across the United States. We asked respondents to mark technologies they consider appropriate to support patients in: acute and chronic disease, medication management, health-promoting behaviors, sleep, substance use, and common and serious mental health conditions. RESULTS Respondents were geographically dispersed across the nation, although most (82.9%) practiced in urban and suburban settings. Compared to other personnel, a higher proportion of BHCs endorsed live video. Similarly, a higher proportion of nurses endorsed all other technologies. PCPs had the lowest rates of endorsement across technologies. Within clinical contexts, the highest acceptance rates were 81% and 70% for BHCs and PCPs respectively in live video for common mental health conditions, and 75% for nurses in mobile apps for health-promoting behaviors. The lowest (9%) endorsement rate across providers was in social media for medication management. CONCLUSIONS The survey suggests subtle differences in the way clinicians envision using technologies to support patient care. Future work must attend to provider perceptions to ensure the sustainment of services across conditions and patient populations.

scholarly journals Design and rationale for a pragmatic cluster randomized trial of the Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) for social housing residents in Ontario and Quebec, Canada

Trials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina Agarwal ◽  
Magali Girard ◽  
Ricardo Angeles ◽  
Melissa Pirrie ◽  
Marie-Thérèse Lussier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Housing ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Awareness Program ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Cluster Randomized

Abstract Background The Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) uses volunteers to provide cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes screening in a community setting, referrals to primary care providers, and locally available programs targeting lifestyle modification. CHAP has been adapted to target older adults residing in social housing, a vulnerable segment of the population. Older adults living in social housing report poorer health status and have a higher burden of a multitude of chronic illnesses, such as CVD and diabetes. The study objective is to evaluate whether there is a reduction in unplanned CVD-related Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospital admissions among residents of social seniors’ housing buildings receiving the CHAP program for 1 year compared to residents in matched buildings not receiving the program. Methods/design This is a pragmatic, cluster randomized controlled trial in community-based social (subsidized) housing buildings in Ontario and Quebec. All residents of 14 matched pairs (intervention/control) of apartment buildings will be included. Buildings with 50–200 apartment units with the majority of residents aged 55+ and a unique postal code are included. All individuals residing within the buildings at the start of the intervention period are included (intention to treat, open cohort). The intervention instrument consists of CHAP screens for high blood pressure using automated blood pressure monitors and for diabetes using the Canadian Diabetes Risk (CANRISK) assessment tool. Monthly drop-in sessions for screening/monitoring are held within a common area of the building. Group health education sessions are also held monthly. Reports are sent to family doctors, and attendees are encouraged to visit their family doctor. The primary outcome measure is monthly CVD-related ED visits and hospitalizations over a 1-year period post randomization. Secondary outcomes are all ED visits, hospitalizations, quality of life, cost-effectiveness, and participant experience. Discussion It is anticipated that CVD-related ED visits and hospitalizations will decrease in the intervention buildings. Using the volunteer-led CHAP program, there is significant opportunity to improve the health of older adults in social housing. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT03549845. Registered on 15 May 2018. Updated on 21 May 2019.

scholarly journals Primary Care Providers Believe That Comprehensive Medication Management Improves Their Work-Life

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 462-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kylee A. Funk ◽  
Deborah L. Pestka ◽  
Mary T. Roth McClurg ◽  
Jennifer K. Carroll ◽  
Todd D. Sorensen
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Care Providers

scholarly journals Connecting Home-Based Self-Monitoring of Blood Pressure Data Into Electronic Health Records for Hypertension Care: A Qualitative Inquiry With Primary Care Providers (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Rodriguez ◽  
Kevin Hwang ◽  
Jing Wang
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Primary Care Setting ◽  
Visual Display ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Critical Value ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Home Based

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.

scholarly journals Monitoring Older Adult Blood Pressure Trends at Home as a Proxy for Brain Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Cassarino ◽  
Blake Bergstrom ◽  
Christine Johannes ◽  
Lisa Gualtieri
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
At Home

Even when older adults monitor hypertension at home, it is difficult to understand trends and share them with their providers. MyHealthNetwork is a dashboard designed for patients and providers to monitor blood pressure readings to detect hypertension and ultimately warning signs of changes in brain health. A multidisciplinary group in a Digital Health course at Tufts University School of Medicine used Design Thinking to formulate a digital solution to promote brain health among older adults in the United States (US). Older adults (aged 65 and over) are a growing population in the US, with many having one or more chronic health conditions including hypertension. Nearly half of all American adults ages 50-64 worry about memory loss as they age and almost all (90%) wish to maintain independence and age in their homes. Given the well-studied association between hypertension and dementia, we designed a solution that would ultimately promote brain health among older adults by allowing them to measure and record their blood pressure readings at home on a regular basis. Going through each step in the Design Thinking process, we devised MyHealthNetwork, an application which connects to a smart blood pressure cuff and stores users’ blood pressure readings in a digital dashboard which will alert users if readings are outside of the normal range. The dashboard also has a physician view where users’ data can be reviewed by the physician and allow for shared treatment decisions. The authors developed a novel algorithm to visually display the blood pressure categories in the dashboard in a way straightforward enough that users with low health literacy could track and understand their blood pressure over time. Additional features of the dashboard include educational content about brain health and hypertension, a digital navigator to support users with application use and technical questions. Phase 1 in the development of our application includes a pilot study involving recruitment of Primary Care Providers with patients who are at risk of dementia to collect and monitor BP data with our prototype. Subsequent phases of development involve partnerships to provide primary users with a rewards program to promote continued use, additional connections to secondary users such as family members and expansion to capture other health metrics.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document