Name
Optimizing Hypertension Control: A Data-Driven Approach in Primary Care and Cardiology Clinics
Date & Time
Monday, March 25, 2024, 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Location Name
Augusta
Topic
Ambulatory
Organization
UNC Health
Description

UNC Health Alliance (UNCHA) is a physician-led network and population health services organization within UNC Health. UNCHA's sponsored a collaborative primary care and cardiology workgroup to develop an aligned metric for hypertension control. There was a notable challenge due to conflicting guidelines prompting a Primary Care and Cardiology collaborative effort to establish a unified vision for hypertension control. The scope of the project across primary care and cardiology effected 147 ambulatory practices and 826 providers across 52 counties in North Carolina. The project took place between October 2021 and July 2022. The intervention involved the creation of a Hypertension Physician Workgroup, development of expected best practices, and alignment of metrics. The Workgroup created a successful change package that included a Risk Assessment algorithm, lowered blood pressure metric thresholds, incorporation of patient-reported home blood pressure readings, Point of Care Tools for Providers and Staff, and system-wide education. Both Primary Care and Cardiology implemented metrics based on patients being either high-risk or low risk with a key component of ASCVD Risk Score. Tableau dashboards were utilized to monitor metric performance. Both Cardiology and Primary Care saw improved performance.