Use the report from your EHR to contact patients who need to be evaluated for potential hypertension. The following steps can be taken:

  • Examining the list, determine which patients need further evaluation under the lens of potential hypertension and invite them to schedule a health maintenance visit if one is not already scheduled. During the health maintenance visit to the clinic, using clinical protocols, mentioned below, evaluate whether the patient should have a diagnosis of hypertension.
  • Begin by reviewing the patient’s medical history, including previous blood pressure measurements, reported symptoms, and risk factors for hypertension (e.g., family history, lifestyle, and comorbidities).
  • Apply the Hypertension Screening Algorithm:
    • All patients whose 3 most recent encounters yield a mean SBP > 140 or a mean DBP > 90
    • All patients who had 3 encounters with a SBP > 140 or a DBP > 90 within the 12 months prior to their most recent encounter.
    • Patients who had a single encounter with SBP > 180 or a DBP > 100 within the 12 months prior to their most recent encounter.
  • Depending on the patient’s clinical presentation and risk factors, additional diagnostic tests may be warranted to confirm the diagnosis and assess the extent of hypertension. These tests may include blood tests, cholesterol levels, electrocardiograms, or other imaging studies.
  • Review the patient’s screening results to ensure they meet the criteria for a positive hypertension screening.
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Links:

Improving Identification and Diagnosis of Hypertensive Patients Hiding in Plain Sight (HIPS)