AHA Regional Hypertension October 2021 – Recordings and Slides are Now Available

Main Room – Featured Speakers

  • Howard A. Zucker, MD, JD – “Hypertension in New York State and the State Health Improvement Plan”
  • Michael K. Rakotz, MD, FAHA, FAAFP - “A Map for Better BP Control: Leveraging the MAP Framework to Improve BP Management and Control”
  • Keith B. Churchwell, MD, FACC, FAHA, FACP - “What Hospitals and Health Systems Can Do To Address Health Equity in the Delivery of Care To Our Patients”
  • Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAHA - “Hypertension Control is a Team Sport”

Breakout 1 M: Measuring Blood Pressure Accurately

  • Speakers: Linda Murakami, RN, BSN, MSHA; Laken Barkowski, RN, BSN, MSHS
  • Session Overview: This session discusses both in-office and out of office BP measurement. Topics include a description of methods and device types available for in-office measurement, as well as a review of proper patient preparation and positioning for measurement. Out of office BP measurement is described with a focus on patient education and counseling for SMBP.

Breakout 1 A: Act Rapidly to Treat Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure

  • Speaker: Michael K. Rakotz, MD, FAHA, FAAFP
  • Session Overview: This session reviews: (1) factors that contribute to therapeutic inertia; (2) evidence-based approaches to intensifying treatment for patients with uncontrolled blood pressure; (3) strategies clinical care teams and health care organizations can implement to reduce therapeutic inertia and increase treatment intensification.

Breakout 1 P: Remote Patient Monitoring

  • Speakers: Sara Fernandez, PhD; Rebecca Lee, MD; Jean Better Cazeau, DNP, RN
  • Session Overview: With the increased use of telehealth in our current healthcare landscape, advancement of remote patient monitoring (RPM) in chronic disease management such as hypertension has become a priority for Community Healthcare Network (CHN). This initiative, the first remote care program at CHN, was funded through a HRSA grant to improve blood pressure control within its servicing communities and address racial disparities in healthcare. Session covers CHN's initial experience in establishing an RPM hypertension collaborative care initiative, combining patient engagement, clinical partnership, health home coordination services, and their online technology platform.

Breakout 2 M: Bringing Measure Accurately Training to your Team

  • Speaker: Alison P. Smith, MPH, BA, BSN, RN
  • Session Overview: This session introduces the newly launched Measuring Blood Pressure Accurately Watch Party Toolkit. Session contains a curated set of resources that have been designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of health care teams, including ideas for planning, hosting, and evaluating an education and training event.
  • CME Credits Available: 1.00 AMA PRA, 1.00 AAPA, 1.00 AANP, 1.00 ANCC

Breakout 2 A: Treating Resistant Hypertension

  • Speaker: Erika R. Drury, M.D.
  • Session Overview: This session aims to: 1) Define/identify patients who have resistant hypertension; 2) Understand mechanisms/causes of resistant hypertension, 3) Develop a treatment plan for resistant hypertension. The goal is to emphasize factors that fit within the "Act Rapidly" topic including - when to start a workup for secondary hypertension and best practices/pearls for treating resistant hypertension including both lifestyle and pharmacologic factors.

Breakout 2 A: Promoting the Use of HIE in Action

  • Speakers: Ian Brissette, PhD; Shannon Vigars; Tessia Bekelja; Rachel Kramer, ScD, MHS
  • Session Overview: To support prevention goals in the National Million Hearts initiative, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging the use of health information technology to identify and diagnose patients with hypertension and coordinate team-based care to promote hypertension control. Because of their position within health care communities, health information exchanges (HIEs) can serve as a data sources for hypertension registries and enable clinical decision supports to guide action. This session describes ongoing collaboration between the New York State Department of Health and the Health Information Exchanges contributing to the Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY) to promote the use of HIEs in action to address hypertension. Representatives from HealtheConnections and Hixny, two Qualified Entities contributing to the SHIN-NY, demonstrate tools based on measures and clinical registries developed through this collaboration.

Breakout 2 P: Integrated Practice Units & Remote Patient Monitoring

  • Speakers: Patricia Calayag, MD; Sandra Kesh, MD
  • Session Overview: During this session, Westmed Medical Group shares with attendees their experience with improving hypertension control at a 500+ provider outpatient practice. Topics include the implementation of a team-based care model (Integrated Practice Unit, or IPU) and a remote patient monitoring (RPM) program that allows tracking of home BP readings for patients.

Breakout 2: Bridging Clinic to Community Linkages

  • Speakers: Paige Hughes; Joann Donnelly, MS; Jessica DesRosiers, MS; Michelle L. Graham
  • Session Overview: The YMCA’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program offers personalized support as participants develop the habit of monitoring their blood pressure. Research shows that the process of recording blood pressure at least twice a month over a period of four months can lower blood pressure in many people with high blood pressure. This presentation discusses the collective efforts of New York State YMCAs to launch, scale, and sustain this evidence-based health intervention, as well as innovative ways to partner with referring clinicians statewide.
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