Enroll patients in the Self-Measured Blood Pressure (SMBP) program
Patients will need to report readings at an established frequency. Make sure that patients are aware of when and how to report their readings, then collect their data and interpret the results.
1. Collecting data
While digital transmission direct from device to the EHR is preferred, ask the patients to return their readings log in the way that works best for them. (i.e., Phone call, Notebook, or Spreadsheet) Most important is that the patient is taking and reporting readings.
2. Interpreting results
When a healthcare provider wants to average multiple blood pressure readings, consider these steps:
- Collect Multiple Readings: The patient is usually instructed to take several blood pressure measurements over a period of time. This can be done at home using a home blood pressure monitor or during visits to the office.
- Record the Readings: The patient records each blood pressure reading, along with the date and time of measurement. This information is important for tracking trends and identifying any significant changes.
- Exclude Outliers: If there are any readings that appear to be outliers, such as extremely high or low values that are inconsistent with the patient’s typical blood pressure range. The provider may exclude them from the averaging process. This is done to ensure that unusual readings don’t skew the average.
- Calculate the Average: Once an appropriate set of blood pressure readings is obtained, the healthcare provider adds them together and divides the sum by the number of readings to calculate the average. For example: if there were five readings (120/80, 122/78, 118/82, 124/76, 120/80), the average would be (120 + 122 + 118 + 124 + 120) divided by 5=604 divided by 5=120.8/80.8.
- Interpret the average: The average blood pressure value provides a more reliable representation of the patient’s overall blood pressure status compared to individual readings. It helps the provider assess the patient’s blood pressure control, monitor any changes over time, and make informed decisions regarding treatment or adjustments to the management plan.
It is important to note that healthcare providers may have their own protocols or variations in the way they calculate averages, a general principle is to sum up the readings and divide by the total number of readings to obtain the average blood pressure value.
Use this chart to reconcile in-office BP and SMBP measurements to classify and manage patients.
Links:
American Medical Association Target: BP Data collection guide
American Medical Association 7-Step SMBP Quick Guide for Clinics
American Medical Association Blood Pressure Interpretation Tables