38716 Implementing Interprofessional Approaches to the Management of Hypertension

Course overview

The use of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) is becoming increasingly recommended in the clinical setting for the evaluation and diagnosis of hypertension (HTN). ABPM not only assists clinicians in making an accurate diagnosis, it may also aid in predicting cardiovascular risk and progression of kidney disease. However, several barriers exist in the use of ABPM, and Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (HBPM) is often utilized to monitor BP out of the office setting. HPBM is a useful tool, however, it requires more patient effort and does not capture BP during large portions of the day. After confirmation of a diagnosis of HTN, patients must comply with their treatment regime in order to maintain control of their BP. However, HTN is poorly controlled in the U.S. despite effective therapy available, necessitating interventions and strategies to improve adherence. By educating nurses and providers regarding the benefits and use of ABPM and HBPM, as well as learning effective strategies and removing barriers to encourage compliance, better patient outcomes will be achieved. In addition, by making clinicians aware of the resources available to assist in reducing the burden of health care related expenses, patients may be likely to be compliant with their medical regime.