Improvement of in-office Blood Pressure targets in an Academic primary care setting
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-856Keywords:
internal medicine, quality improvementAbstract
Background
Accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement in an office-based setting is essential for diagnosis and management of hypertension. Staff education on proper blood pressure measurement technique and recording is a focus of recent hypertension guidelines. (1) Compared with other methods, unattended Automated Office Blood Pressure (AOBP) devices reduce measurement errors and improve BP Management. (2,3,4) The addition of AOBP to staff education needs to be assessed objectively.
Objectives
To determine the effect of staff education on proper BP measurement and addition of AOBP devices on BP targets in an academic general internal medicine clinic.
Methods
Education was provided to the medical staff on how to appropriately check BP in general and on the proper use of the AOBP devices. Education was repeated in several intervals to ensure consistency in practice. Six AOBP Hillrom (Welch Allyn spot 4400) devices were deployed for the clinic. Devices allowed for three automated readings 1 minute apart eliminating the first reading and keeping the other 2 readings. Staff were instructed to document two blood pressure readings into the electronic medical record. The number of patients who completed two BP measurements documented in the EMR over time.
Results
Our results showed timely education with refreshers, increased BP measurement protocol and improvement in BP recordings. Adherence to 2 BP checks increased from 40% in Dec-21 to 99% Jun-23. The percentage of patients with improved BP increased from 40% to 76% after staff education and addition of AOBP.
Conclusion
Timely education of medical staff and the addition of AOBP could increase the accuracy of in-office BP measurement.
Key word: Internal medicine
Type of submission: Abstract
References
Unger T, Borghi C, Charchar F, et al. 2020 International Society of Hypertension Global Hypertension Practice Guidelines. Hypertension, 2020. 75(6): pp. 1334-1357. doi:10.1161/hypertensionaha.120.15026
Pappaccogli M, Di Monaco S, Perlo E, et al. Comparison of Automated Office Blood Pressure With Office and Out-Off-Office Measurement Techniques. Hypertension, 2019. 73(2): pp. 481-490. doi:10.1161/hypertensionaha.118.1207
Stergiou G, Kollias A, Parati G, O'Brien E. Office Blood Pressure Measurement: The Weak Cornerstone of Hypertension Diagnosis. Hypertension, 2018. 71(5): pp. 813-815. doi:10.1161/hypertensionaha.118.10850
Landgraf J, Wishner SH, Kloner RA. Comparison of automated oscillometric versus auscultatory blood pressure measurement. Am J Cardiol. 2010, 106(3): pp. 386-388. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2010.03.040
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Copyright (c) 2023 Mani Khorsand Askari, Hoda Shabpiray, Sadik Khuder, Anand Mutgi, Ken Vellequette, Cheryl Growden, Lisa Heyman, Dawn Lennard, Sarah Aldrich, Marilee Clemons, Jenni Gilmore, Brenda Joyce, Basil Akpunonu
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