iMPROve Health’s effort to collaborate with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) for the Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring Program (SMBP) in primary care clinics shows promising results.
Several clinics improved their “Controlling High Blood Pressure” measure, which looks at those patients who have controlled hypertension over the total hypertensive patient population. Three clinics achieved an 80% or higher rate of hypertension control. More than 260 patients are enrolled in SMBP.
In addition to successes within the clinics, the SMBP training and SMBP teleECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) series were well-received. The training showed a 7.7% increase in knowledge, and nearly 98% of attendees believed they would be able to use the information presented in their organization or practice.
Recruitment
iMPROve Health recruited more than 20 primary care clinics to participate in the program. Recruitment materials were shared through various networks and statewide organizations as recommended by MDHSS to gain interest and commitment from clinics.
After securing verbal commitments from numerous health systems, the iMPROve Health team conducted in-person orientation visits with the interested clinics. A signed commitment form was obtained at these visits.
Training
iMPROve Health facilitated onsite training in Kansas City, Springfield, and St. Louis, including a “train-the-trainer” session on benefits and techniques and a session on operationalizing at-home measurements in practice.
A six-session teleECHO series focused on spreading best practices and troubleshooting barriers. Each session received high attendance and engagement from all clinics.
The teleECHO series evaluation showed that participants enjoyed hearing the perspective of other organizations throughout their state and liked that they had ample opportunities to ask questions. Nearly 93% of participants felt that the ECHO model was an effective learning tool. The iMPROve Health team looks forward to seeing more success as we continue to work with these clinics.
In addition to the onsite training and teleECHO series, iMPROve Health staff provided technical assistance to all participating clinics through biweekly virtual meetings with the clinic point of contact.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, iMPROve Health staff hosted an SMBP COVID call with all participating clinics and will continue to offer additional support via virtual calls until deemed unnecessary by clinics.
One Clinic’s Story
ACCESS Family Care in Neosho, Missouri, found success by engaging its employees in the program and having a dedicated clinic champion.
The clinic created a process for integrating SMBP into their hypertension protocols and created mailers for patients who didn’t return their loaner blood pressure devices. The enthusiasm from the staff trickled down to the patients, allowing a smaller clinic like ACCESS Neosho to enroll 25 patients in their SMBP initiative in the first three months.
ACCESS Neosho, among the clinics with an 80% or higher rate of hypertension control, provided an overview of their success by giving a case presentation during the teleECHO series.
Contact Us
For more information, write to SMBP@improve.health.