Hypertension RPM Program Has Led to Increased Blood Pressure Control and Fewer Emergency Department (ED) Visits

A pharmacist-led remote patient monitoring (RPM) program at Mount Sinai Health System, in New York City, that started during the COVID-19 pandemic for the management of hypertension has led to increased blood pressure control and fewer emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient admissions for hypertension-related concerns.

Patients take blood pressure readings daily, which are sent directly to electronic patient records, where pharmacists can reach out to tweak medications or intervene if blood pressure readings are off.

In an analysis of 218 patients in the health system (109 in the RPM program matched by gender, race, ethnicity and age, with 109 receiving usual care via regular checkups with physicians), 61% of patients in the RPM group achieved blood pressure control three months after enrolling in the program, compared with 43% of patients in the usual care group (P=0.010). At six months, 72% of patients in the RPM group achieved blood pressure control, compared with 53% in the usual care group (P=0.005).

Additionally, RPM patients experienced, on average, a 7-point decrease in systolic blood pressure at three months, and 90.2% were able to sustain that difference for an additional three consecutive months. Those in the RPM group also had fewer ED visits (25 vs. 33 in the usual care group; P=0.396) and fewer inpatient admissions (19 vs. 56 in the usual care group; P<0.001).

” 70% testing blood pressure daily or every other day.”

For more details visit: Pharmacist-Led Remote Patient Monitoring Yields Improved Blood Pressure Control