January Lunch and Learn Discussion

During the meeting, Dr. David Grande, Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Dr. Sonal Patil, Clinician-Investigator at the Cleveland Clinic Community Care Institute, presented on these two articles and participated in a discussion with the audience about their policy and practice implications:

In addition, Ashlee Harris, a community health worker at the Penn Center for Community Health Workers, reflected on the important role of community health workers and their ability to empathize and meet patients where they are.

Summary of Discussion:

Effect of Community Health Worker Support on Clinical Outcomes of Low-Income Patients Across Primary Care Facilities: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Home blood pressure monitoring in cases of clinical uncertainty to differentiate appropriate inaction from therapeutic inertia

  • Physicians and patients are reluctant to intensify treatment when they are uncertain if that single elevated platelet blood pressure truly reflects the patient's hypertension control state. Clinic blood pressures are known to be least accurate and repeated outside-the-office blood pressure measurements accurately reflect hypertension control state.
  • When physicians and patients are uncertain about identifying treatments in the presence of an elevated clinic blood pressure reading, documenting average home blood pressures improves hypertension control rates and clinical decision-making.
  • Findings: Two-thirds of patients with clinic blood pressure in an uncontrolled hypertension range had controlled hypertension with average home blood pressure measurements. Overall, average home blood pressure documentation improved hypertension control rates.
  • Policy Recommendations:
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