Patients enrolled in UC Davis Health's Remote Patient Monitoring program for blood pressure saw significant improvement in their readings over the course of their participation.
On average, participants have reduced their blood pressure from 150/80 mmHg before enrollment to 125/74 mmHg throughout their involvement in the program.
"We are proud to see our at-home blood pressure monitoring program driving real improvements in patient outcomes while also making care more convenient and accessible," said Heather Leisy, medical director of population health quality at UC Davis Health. "This innovative approach provides personalized support for individuals managing high blood pressure, empowering them to take greater control of their health and live fuller, healthier lives."
How does the program work?
In the past, people with high blood pressure usually had to visit the doctor once a month to share their blood pressure numbers. These visits sometimes delayed treatment and missed chances to help patients sooner.
But with remote monitoring — which UC Davis Health started a year ago — patients are given connected devices, like blood pressure cuffs and scales, to use from home in real time. These devices send the data to the UC Davis Population Health team, which includes a doctor, pharmacist, nurse and medical assistant. This team works closely with each patient to help keep their blood pressure in a healthy range and spot health problems early.
The program also offers group classes, one-on-one coaching and help with medications. It lasts six months, but patients who haven't reached their personal goals by then can stay in the program for up to a year.
The program looks at the full range of factors that influence a person's ability to manage their high blood pressure.
"Patients receive personalized education on everything from diet and nutrition to medication, exercise and sleep," shared Huong Sandhu, ambulatory case management pharmacist with UC Davis Health and the leader of patient education for the initiative. "It's a truly holistic program that supports the whole person because managing a chronic disease like hypertension requires more than prescriptions — it requires personalized, supportive and coordinated care that fits into a person's life."
Alarming truth about high blood pressure
It might be surprising to some, but about half of Americans age 20 and older — over 122 million people — have high blood pressure, according to the most recent report from the American Heart Association. Even more worrisome, only 1 in 4 people with high blood pressure have it under control (about 27 million people).
If it's not treated, high blood pressure can cause serious problems like disability, a lower quality of life, or even a deadly heart attack or stroke.
A leader in remote patient care
In the past few years, UC Davis Health has started remote monitoring programs for patients with heart failure, chronic lung disease and post-angioplasty treatment.
The health system plans to add more remote monitoring for other chronic illnesses. These efforts will make monitoring more convenient and affordable for UC Davis Health patients.
"Remote patient monitoring allows us to manage hypertension and other chronic conditions more effectively at the population level. It enhances the patient experience, improves health outcomes and helps prevent avoidable hospitalizations and emergency department visits," said Reshma Gupta, chief of population health and accountable care. "This collaboration is another example of how we're driving innovation to make health care more convenient, more accessible and more equitable for every patient — regardless of who they are or where they live."
UC Davis Health patients interested in remote patient monitoring for blood pressure should speak with their primary care physician to request a referral to the program.
