You've probably heard the phrase "it takes a village" to get things done. That may be true of treatment for high blood pressure, also called hypertension. It affects one in three adults. San Antonio’s University Health System is using the village approach to manage patients with this life-threatening chronic condition.
Controlling high blood pressure is tricky.
It takes more than just a quick lecture from your doctor once a year and the right medications.
While drugs to treat hypertension are widely used, University Family Health Center Southeastis trying a new approach, integrating different specialties into one team to control their patients’ high blood pressure.
"It’s not just medications that are required to treat hypertension," explained clinical pharmacist Kirk Evoy, Pharm.D. "It’s also things like lifestyle changes, what do you eat, do you exercise, do you smoke."
Just a couple of years ago, more than half of the patients at this clinic had uncontrolled high blood pressure, putting them at risk for kidney damage, heart problems, blindness and stroke.
"I know that I have to try to help myself," said 63-year-old Ann Mazuca. She is a good example of a patient who needs help. Mazuca is diabetic. She is developing glaucoma and struggling to keep her blood pressure numbers down.
Weekly check-ins with a patient navigator kept her on track. "Oh I think it’s wonderful," Mazuca commented. "The fact that they care makes me care. People want me to live. And that gives me a lot of hope."
Navigator Edlyn Estevez said sometimes people need outside motivation to make the lifestyle changes needed to control this disease. "I want to help them help themselves," Estevez stressed. "I’ve gotten good feedback so I feel pretty positive about it."
About 2000 patients in three University clinics have been part of this new approach to treating hypertension. Free home blood pressure cuffs bought with a grant from the American Heart Association have armed patients with an important tool.
Family medicine physician Patrick Pierre, MD, said early results show a cost savings in terms of inpatient and outpatient care that come along with improving blood pressure control.
"For example, my patients noticed an improvement from 57 percent of patients that were controlled up to 70 percent," Pierre recalled. "To me that was an eye opener."
Team approaches to health treatment are becoming more common, showing success in diseases like diabetes, cancer, dementia and lung disease.